An Olympic ice skating couple, whose baby was cared for in the Special Care Baby Unit at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, have raised £600 for North Cumbria Hospitals NHS Charity.

Parents David and Stacey King, from Carlisle, returned to Special Care Baby Unit where their daughter was born – to hand over the money.

The successful pair had a hugely successful ice skating career which included national titles and appearances at two Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Sochi.

Following retirement from competitive skating, the couple started a family. However, complications arose when Stacey contracted sepsis while she was pregnant with her daughter, Darcey.

The couple say Special Care Baby Unit did a “super job” of looking after their little girl after mum Stacey became very ill after contracting sepsis.

Darcey was born on June 16, 2020 in the middle of the covid pandemic and spent nine weeks in Special Care Baby Unit.

In January, David and Stacey opened the prestigious Trophee D’Ecosse Challenger International competition at the Dumfries Icebowl and gave their fee to Special Care Baby Unit, as well as raising awareness of the work that the staff do.

The North Cumbria Hospitals NHS Charity raises money to support the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital to improve their patients experience and support staff wellbeing and development.