Completed! - Sponsored Event No. 1 - Hadrians Wall Hike 17th – 25th August. Tony White is undertaking this walk in memory of Samuel and to raise awareness of SSPE.

Completed! Sponsored event No. 2 - Tony White, Len Grant, Karl Davies, Colin Starkey & Gary White are climbing Mount Snowdon 13th - 15th September in memory of Samuel and to raise awareness of SSPE. ** They are all paying for their own expenses on both events, so all money raised will go to Gemma and her Family ** Please sponsor them to show your support and keep sharing this page. Thank You 💙

Samuel’s story:: Sam first became unwell on 8th February 2019 and after weeks in Hospital and numerous tests, he was finally diagnosed with SSPE on 19th March. .Contray to the little information on SSPE, it doesn't always take months or years to go from stage 1 to stage 4. Just months ago Sam was at School, riding his bike and playing football. The photo above shows the reality of what this incurable virus did in just a short period of time. Due to illness Sam‘s MMR vaccine was put on a delayed schedule and he caught Measles prior to receiving it.

Samuel very sadly passed away at home with his Family by his side on Tuesday 30th April at 6.50pm. RIP Samuel 💙

SSPE is a progressive neurological disorder of children and young adults (mainly Male) that affects the central nervous system. It's a viral infection caused by defective measles virus. The initial symptoms of are subtle and include mild mental deterioration (such as memory loss) and changes in behaviour (such as irritability) followed by disturbances in motor function, including uncontrollable involuntary jerking movements of the head and limbs. In advanced stages, individuals may lose the ability to walk, as their muscles stiffen or spasm. There is progressive deterioration to a comatose state, and then to a persistent vegetative state and then death.

We have spoken to many people about this virus and not one person had ever heard of it prior to Sam's diagnosis. We are determined to make as many people aware of this incurable virus as possible. The Medical Staff that looked after him had not heard of it and only that one Consultant had previously diagnosed one other child in India, did he finally get a diagnosis.

A report recently published stated that the number of Children diagnosed with Measles has gone up by 300% in the last few years. If more people are aware of SSPE they may just change their minds about getting their Children vaccinated against it.

We ask you to share this page please and help us to raise awareness of SSPE.

THANK YOU so much for all of your donations and your continued support in helping Gemma keep raising awareness of SSPE..

Every penny will go to Gemma & her Family to use how they wish.

Gemma's Friends x