My name is Erin. I’m 14 years old and I’m doing the 421,000 step challenge for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity. 

I’ve always wanted to give something back as my little brother (Joe, 7) was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December 2016 and has been receiving treatment at Noah’s Ark on Rainbow Ward since. Joe had a year of weekly, painful and gruelling chemotherapy and finally finished in January 2018. Unfortunately after a years break the tumour returned. He has just finished yet another year of brutal chemotherapy. Which thankfully has stabilised the tumours growth for now. However this time the tumour has left him completely blind. Joe will still return to the hospital to see his oncologist on Rocket Ward and have MRIs frequently.

My younger sister (Molly, 3) was also cared for at the hospital on the Intensive care unit and Island Ward after going into respiratory failure. Since then Molly has had an operation to have a gastrostomy fitted after having a NG Tube for 18 months, and is doing much better.

The hospital is a bright, happy place where all of us have always felt comfortable going. If it wasn’t for this amazing hospital my family and other families like mine wouldn’t be where we are today. Please donate if possible as now it is more important than ever for charities like these to raise money even in these difficult circumstances. The work that the charity does in and around the hospital is absolutely vital ranging from supplying the wards with ipads to funding the fantastic play therapists that support the children through the toughest of times.