Up until his fourth birthday our son James was a happy, energetic boy.

He had a smile that would light up any room.

Whilst we were away celebrating his birthday he started to feel pain in his legs.

We were at CentreParcs, so assumed with the activities we were taking part in he had just pulled a muscle.

How wrong we were.

A couple of weeks passed and the pain didn’t go away, and he was unable to walk.

He kept getting ill too, and was falling asleep at preschool.

Our happy, energetic boy had gone.

We saw a number of doctors and nurses at our local practice, out of hours service, walk in, and hospital.

But none of them put the symptoms together and thought it could be anything sinister.

After weeks of worry, we ended up at Alder Hey.

A quick blood test and we were told it could be one of two things.

He either had a septic hip, or it was Leukaemia.

A scan of the hip showed nothing untoward, so he was sent for a bone marrow test, and our worst fears were confirmed.

James was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in April 2018.

He started chemotherapy straight away, and 6 weeks later we were told the cancer had all but gone and he was in remission.

It was a long road of treatment (3 years 4 months in total) to to make sure the cancer stayed away, but we are delighted James has made a full recovery, ringing the end of treatment bell in June 2021.

The support we have received from everyone at Alder Hey has been absolutely first class. 

They fixed our boy, so we are forever in their debt.

And so, we feel compelled to help them, and will be taking part in a number of fundraising events to help them carry on with their good work.

COMPLETED...

July 2018 - Liverpool NightRider. 
My friend Dean and I completed a 100km cycle around the streets of Liverpool. 

July 2018 - RideLondon
My Aunty Liz completed a 100 mile cycle between London and Surrey.

July 2018 - Double Yorkshire Tough Mudder
My friend Kevin and I completed two laps of the 10 mile Yorkshire course.

September 2018 - North West Tough Mudder
I completed the North West Half mud run with my mum Kim Read and sister Karen Ford.

September 2018 - Shaved My Head
When James lost his hair my friend Kev challenged me to shave mine off in support. I jokingly told him he needed to raise £1,000 for Alder Hey first, thinking he wouldn't do it. I was wrong!

September 2018 - Swim Serpentine
My Aunty Liz took part in the Swim Serpentine event in Hyde Park, London.

October 2018
My wife Vicky and her dance school Centre Stage School of Dance performed a tribute to Alder Hey at their end of year dance show, also raising money via raffle ticket and programme sales.

May 2019 - Europe’s Toughest Mudder
My friend Kevin and I took part in Europe’s Toughest Mudder. This was 12 hours of mud in the middle of the night.

April 2020 - Coronvirus Isolation Marathon
With the scheduled Manchester Marathon cancelled due to the Coronavirus I took to the streets of Runcorn and completed my own Isolation Marathon.

May 2021 - 7 Marathons in 7 Days
Kevin and I attempted 7 marathons in 7 days. I completed 5 of them, Kev completed 6.

COMING UP

Apr 2023 - 7 Marathons in 7 Days, for Real This Time

I have unfinished business with this challenge so will be completing it on my own in April 2023. 

Find out more here:

https://7in7foralderhey.org