Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am running the Bath Half this year for THE GRAND APPEAL with my eldest sister Lucy Powrie. This is a massive undertaking for her as she is not a natural runner and has been working so hard to prepare her self for it. We are not going for speed just to actually make it round in one piece! She has been inspired to this and have me support her, after watching mine and Louisa Austin’s Daughter Hollie becoming critically ill with meningitis (Meningococcal Septicaemia).

On the 19th April 2018 I took our youngest daughter Hollie to get checked out at RUH Bath. Luckily a wonderful nurse picked up on Hollies symptoms of meningitis and quickly got the ball rolling on what was to be THE fight for her life. By the time she left Bath she was covered in a rash from head to toe and had arrested twice. We had been told she might not make it though the night and the subsequent fight that lie in front of her. We were blue-lighted to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit by the WATCH team (her angles) in the early hours of the 20th where later that afternoon she arrested again. With out having to ask, the charity THE GRAND APPEAL had given us a bedroom at Paul’s House which was a 5 min walk or 2 min run from Hollies bedside. In the room there was also a fold out bed that our eldest Daughter could stay on. This was so she too could be close to her Mum, Dad and very sick sister when she needed to be. This help made an extremely stressful experience so much easier to handle. For this we are eternally grateful.

Over the next 12 weeks we got to see all the other things this most wonderful charity provides for patients at Bristol Children’s Hospital. This includes the play specialists on the wards that helped distract Hollie during traumatic procedures such as  changing the dressings on her wounds. They made the hospital a fun place be. There was also the music therapist who really helped Hollie turn a corner with relearning how to use her hands and arms. She responded so well to it bashing a drum to realise her frustration. 

We will never forget the big play room with toys, fun activity’s and crafts. The outside space with bikes, scooters, balls, huge lego and a slide. The occasional magic show. All topped off with a guitar playing leader (Alex) who loved origami and making sticker charts which helped to encourage Hollies eating, drinking and medicine taking.

These wonderful people at THE GRAND APPEAL really do change the lives massively of the little people and their families at Bristol children’s hospital putting the smiles back into there lives which in turn helps their recovery.

We still love visiting the play room when Hollie has follow up appointments which she will have into her teen years!

I would like to say a massive Thanks to the Grand appeal (you wonderful bunch) by raising some money for them. To help them keep up the good work as they really do changing the lives of the little people at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Please give what you can and thank you in advance 

Mat, Lou, Darcie and Hollie 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.