(Scroll down to the updates to follow our journey so far!)

------------

An update on Emily (11 December 2020)

Our very brave baby granddaughter is no longer in remission, she was doing so well. However the position for these very brave children/babies can change overnight. Emily is now going to continue her journey at Great Ormond Street (GOSH) starting with immunotherapy followed by a round of chemotherapy and then potentially a bone marrow transplant. They will continue to be supported by CLIC Sargent, the wonderful charity that gets no Government support but are supported by all of you. Please hold Emily and her wonderful parents close to your hearts while she continues on this dangerous journey.

-----------

We have decided to do this challenge in support of CLIC Sargent because although it’s a huge challenge it’s not half the challenge that children with cancer face each day. 

CLIC Sargent have helped our granddaughter Emily and her mummy and daddy right from the start of their diagnosis and beyond. This was their first baby and a diagnosis at five weeks old is huge. CLIC Sargent are with them continually holding their hand and they hold the grandparents hands also. It is very difficult being a grandparent in this situation.

Emily was diagnosed with infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia last November at just five weeks of age. She spent the following six months at Southampton General Hospital on intensive chemo and she is now having daily remission chemo at home for the next 18 months.

When Emily was diagnosed it broke our hearts, it’s the hardest thing we have ever had to cope with and just writing this brings me to the edge of tears.

It’s our turn now to complete this challenge. We are (virtually) walking from Wokingham to Kielder Water, Northumberland, aiming to get there for Christmas eve. Kielder Water has the darkest sky in the whole of the UK so we think the view of Santa and his reindeer will be spectacular especially being led by Rudolph and his bright red nose!

We started this crazy idea over a cup of coffee 3 weeks ago (mid November) and now we are looking forward to seeing Father Christmas and the reindeer being led across the clear Northumberland sky by Rudolph.

We will then start the return 270 miles on Boxing Day, 540 miles in total, phew!

I would like to tell you that whereas I am a bit of a walker Grumps used to boast that he only ever walked from his car en route to his office - outrageous! But now he's doing 3 walks a day to ensure we make it on time.

PLEASE SUPPORT  THIS WONDERFUL CHARITY TO CONTINUE TO HELP THESE VERY BRAVE CHILDREN