A north Norfolk man is abseiling 150ft down St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London where his critically ill granddaughter was treated.

Eastern Daily Press: Alan Monsey will be abseiling 150ft down St Mary�s Hospital in London where his critically ill granddaughter, Emmie-Rae Barker, was treated. Emmie-Rae in hospital. Pictures: Supplied by Imperial CollegeAlan Monsey will be abseiling 150ft down St Mary�s Hospital in London where his critically ill granddaughter, Emmie-Rae Barker, was treated. Emmie-Rae in hospital. Pictures: Supplied by Imperial College (Image: Archant)

Alan Monsey, 55, from Worstead, near North Walsham, is taking on the charity challenge in honour of Emmie-Rae Barker, who was born with multiple life-threatening heart defects, causing her to spend a total of eight months in various hospitals.

Emmie-Rae, who will be three in August, from Fowell Close, Earlham, Norwich, was admitted to St Mary's in 2014 at just three-months-old when she went into respiratory failure due to pneumonia.

Two weeks later she was re-admitted after going into respiratory arrest due to heart failure.

She has since undergone major surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital and her family say her health has improved in leaps and bounds.

Eastern Daily Press: Alan Monsey will be abseiling 150ft down St Mary�s Hospital in, London where his critically ill granddaughter, Emmie-Rae Barker, was treated. Emmie-Rae Barker. Pictures: Supplied by Imperial CollegeAlan Monsey will be abseiling 150ft down St Mary�s Hospital in, London where his critically ill granddaughter, Emmie-Rae Barker, was treated. Emmie-Rae Barker. Pictures: Supplied by Imperial College (Image: Archant)

Mr Monsey, who will be abseiling as part of a team with seven family members and friends, said: 'She still has to go back to hospital for check-ups, but she's doing well and living a full life.

'Something like this stops you and makes you realise what life is and what's precious to you. Everyone at St Mary's we spoke to was great. The staff were fantastic. We'll continue to fundraise for it; it's such a great cause.'

The event at 1pm on Wednesday, April 26 will raise money for the More Smiles Appeal partnership between Imperial College healthcare charity and COSMIC - the charity for the children's intensive care unit at St Mary's Hospital.

The fundraising appeal aims to raise £2m to upgrade and expand the hospital's children's intensive care unit, transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility that matches the expertise of its staff. About £1.4m has already been raised.

Eastern Daily Press: Alan Monsey will be abseiling 150ft down St Mary�s Hospital in Paddington, London where his critically ill granddaughter, Emmie-Rae Barker, was treated. Emmie-Rae Barker. Pictures: Supplied by Imperial CollegeAlan Monsey will be abseiling 150ft down St Mary�s Hospital in Paddington, London where his critically ill granddaughter, Emmie-Rae Barker, was treated. Emmie-Rae Barker. Pictures: Supplied by Imperial College (Image: Archant)

The unit is currently unable to meet demand and is often forced to turn away children in need of its services.

The expansion will nearly double capacity from eight to 15 beds, meaning up to 200 more critically ill children can be treated each year.

To read more about Emmie-Rae's story and to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charlotte-MonseyFor more information and to sign up for the abseil, vis www.moresmiles.org.uk

Eastern Daily Press: Alan Monsey will be abseiling 150ft down St Mary�s Hospital in Paddington, London where his critically ill granddaughter, Emmie-Rae Barker, was treated. Mr Monsey and Emmie-Rae. Pictures: Supplied by Imperial CollegeAlan Monsey will be abseiling 150ft down St Mary�s Hospital in Paddington, London where his critically ill granddaughter, Emmie-Rae Barker, was treated. Mr Monsey and Emmie-Rae. Pictures: Supplied by Imperial College (Image: Archant)