Austin and Freddie were born at 25 weeks, weighing just 1lb 10 oz and 1lb 11 oz, with less than a 1% chance of survival. Due to such extreme prematurity, both boys had a bleed on the brain at birth, fortunately Freddie’s cleared but Austin’s didn’t. Austin had many hurdles to overcome & as a family, we will be forever grateful to Great Ormond Street. Born in August, Austin & Freddie spent many months in intensive care, coming home for the first time on December 31st 2014. At just 5 weeks old, weighing a tiny 2lb, Austin’s Great Ormond Street journey began. He had his first emergency brain surgery and a VP Shunt inserted, to treat hydrocephalus. In his short life Austin has endured 7 lifesaving brain surgeries, 2 other major operations and a life changing/pioneering operation called SDR to give Austin the best chance of walking and an independent life. Austin is one of the fortunate children, who under difficult circumstances, has the world class Great Ormond Street Hospital to care for him and support his conditions. Having saved Austin’s life seven times and performing his lifechanging SDR surgery, we literally owe everything to Great Ormond Street As a family we had been warned Austin will never walk, talk or see. Well in true Austin style, with his pure determination and the amazing support of Great Ormond Street, Austin now attends main stream school, walks with just the aid of splints and smashes life in general. None of this would have been possible without the amazing GOSH doctors and nurses. To show our appreciation 7 of us will be training day and night to complete the London Marathon 2022 as team “Austin’s Next Big Step” with the aim of raising as much money as possible. If Austin can smash life like he does………………. us old boys can certainly put the miles in to run a marathon. Please dig deep and support such an amazing charity!