Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

This year I have decided to take on the biggest physical and mental challenge of my life. I'll be running a self sufficiency, endurance race in the volcanic and desert terrain of Fuerteventura. It is over 4 days. I have to carry all my own equipment and food. Day 1 is 18 miles, Day 2 36-40miles, Day 3 REST (and hurt), Day 4 18 miles. 

I have been training hard since January, it starts on the 23rd September

I want to raise money to help support Eddie and his family. I am a friend and crossift buddy with his mum Ily, who is an absolute inspiration. Life is tough but they all just get on with it and keep on campaigning and fighting for the health of Eddie. The medicinal cannabis he has been prescribed privately since May has dramatically improved his health. He now sleeps through the night and has less seizures. He is the happiest he has ever been. It however comes at a cost of £2,000 per month. His  want to give him 12 months on this medication and then review the situation. Here is more info on Eddie and his life from mum Ily, dad Alex and brother Thomas. Thanks so much for your support. 

Our son, Eddie, has a rare genetic condition which caused a (or some) bleeds on his brain in utero, leaving him with a severe brain injury. Consequently Eddie has various neurological conditions, including cortical vision impairment (he is registered as functionally blind), Grade 4 Cerebral Palsy affecting all four limbs, intractable epilepsy (West syndrome) and global developmental delay. West syndrome, also known as infantile spasms, is a rare and severe epilepsy syndrome and it has had a truly devastating impact on his development.

Since the day we discovered that Eddie’s brain had been injured (at 35 weeks gestation) the various medical professionals that we have seen have all talked about the wonders of neuroplasticity, especially in babies. But the very real lack of NHS funding means we don't get enough practical professional input to truly help with Eddie's neurological and physical development. But the biggest hurdle Eddie has faced, without doubt, are the ongoing, and catastrophic, seizures he experiences daily. We have been campaigning to get Eddie access to medical cannabis, but despite the recent rescheduling of medicinal cannabis it is simply NOT being provided by the NHS. We have therefore had to take Eddie both to Holland and to a private hospital in the UK, and he now has a private prescription for medicinal cannabis. We are raising funds to try sustain the incredibly high costs of this medication privately.

Over the years we have worked with specialists in neurological rehabilitation, we have done a course of 'targeted training', and have also used funds raised to pay for a private physiotherapist, a private occupational therapist and to take Eddie to a weekly equine therapy sessions and swimming therapy. In addition, over the last few years we have had recommendations from both our NHS physiotherapist and OT about various pieces of vital equipment that they suggest Eddie would benefit from, but which they could not provide so we had to fund them through other means.

We are determined to try to give Eddie the chance to live a life with fewer seizures, to keep him safe. And we desperately want to keep helping Eddie to develop, below is a short list of the medications/therapies we are hoping to fund moving forwards;

1) A private prescription for medicinal cannabis                                 

2) Appropriate equipment at home to keep him safe and well, e.g. a bath with disabled access etc                                                                                

3) A Goto seat                                                                 

4) Regular Equine therapy sessions at Freedom Equine Centre                  

5) Regular physiotherapy/hydrotherapy sessions with Therapy Stars                                                                                                   

Having a child with complex needs is both a challenge and a joy. The ridiculous costs associated with anything 'special needs' however is truly eye watering. We couldn't do it without help, and we are so grateful for the help we have received.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our beautiful, determined little boy. The support he receives is truly invaluable to us as a family.                                                                                                                           

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds, or surplus funds, then the funds will be used, if appropriate, to fund support for our child’s needs in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objects. If in those circumstances we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objects, then any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to be used for the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.

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