Most people undertake a challenge like the Camino de Santiago; 'The Way of St James', for very personal reasons. The Moorman Boys are no different.

In April 2017, to coincide with the Easter holiday (and a 4 week Uni break for Harry), Jake, Harry and Martin plan to walk 'The Way' in aid of the Leeds General Infirmary Brain Tumour' Charitable Trust.

Why this walk?

Put simply it gives the 3 of us an opportunity to 'pay back' the amazing work of Jake's Neurosurgeon and colleagues at LGI who operated on Jake on 2 occasions: firstly (a 7 hour operation) following a brain haemorrhage in May 2014 and subsequently in February 2016 ( a 10 hour operation) after he suffered further haemorrhages. Both operations were essential: Jake was told if he tried to avoid surgery there was a real risk that he would die on the ward.

Jake was discharged in June 2016 (a complete miracle in our view), less than 4 months after this life saving surgery. We are so thankful for the support and prayers of so many people in the last 2 years: many of whom we may never even meet.  We totally believe those prayers made a massive difference and we remain so thankful that Jake has been blessed with the all clear and are convinced that he now has the brightest of futures.

We want to walk 'The Way', partly because we always fancied doing it (especially after watching the film starring Martin Sheen), but mainly because we are so grateful for the surgery that Jake underwent and also because it is a very practical way of honouring the unbelievable work that The Neurosurgical team at LGI do on a daily basis. This is our way of simply saying a massive THANK YOU.

'The Camino' is a 490 mile walk from the French Pyrenees to Santiago in North West Spain. It is a well known and historic pilgrim route. We plan to walk from 1 April to 1 May. We will need to average around 20 miles a day with no rest days taken. We expect it to be pretty tough at times.

Why this Charity?

Hopefully you may consider this trek to be worthy of sponsorship. If so, then thank you so much. Please understand that whatever you pledge as sponsorship, ALL of it will go to support the work of the Brain Tumour Research and Support Trust in Yorkshire (BTRS) which provides a network of resources to patients and their families across the county. 

Please note we are covering all of our expenses for the walk including flights, hostel accommodation and food. Martin is also taking a 2 week period of unpaid leave of absence from school to allow for the 4 weeks available. To reiterate, all pledges will be donated in their entirety to BTRS.

This charity is close to the hearts of each member of our family. Jake has experienced serious brain trauma first hand and our whole family have also had to endure its impact. This charity helps to reduce the impact that brain trauma has on patients like Jake and their families.

The photos attached show Jake post surgery in 2014, post surgery in 2016, his 2016 'war wound' and the day of his discharge in June 2016 when he was told by his neurosurgeon to "go and get on with your life". We have also dropped in a family snap from his 18th birthday party held on 22 April 2016,  just 10 weeks after that second operation. That family snap includes his mum Nicky and sister Rosie.

We would like to genuinely thank you all for any help you are willing to offer. Our target amount to raise is £5000: an achievable sum we believe and peanuts in the great scheme of things, especially when you consider that Jake received treatment conservatively estimated to be easily in excess of £100,000 on the NHS. This included across the New Year 2015/16 period, 3 successive ambulance journeys in Scotland from Stanraer to Dumfries, Dumfries to Edinburgh and Edinburgh back to Leeds General Infirmary: all in the space of 5 days including New Years Eve!  His treatment was and has been throughout, never short of fantastic!

Hopefully you may feel able and willing to help us to achieve this target?

Thank you for reading Jake's story!

Jake, Harry and Martin