We are cycling the 100 miles for Prudential RideLondon to raise money for the Rory Spinks Brighter Future Fund.  This is supporting the Immunology team and providing funding for play workers who do such essential work in entertaining and developing children in hospital for extended periods.

Rory was born on 24th May 2013 and died on 15th February 2016. When you have a one in several million baby you are fortunate that one of two global centres where they can be treated is on your doorstep.  You are fortunate that immensely clever people have dedicated their lives to researching and treating children with rare and severe conditions.  You are fortunate that such a place exists where hearts are open, warm and deeply caring to make difficult lives not only bearable but special on a daily basis.  Our fund raising is to help ensure that this can continue.

Through Rory we met inspiring and humbling people.  The sheer brainpower, love, care and devotion that Rory and we benefitted from will stay with us always.  We made great friends with all the doctors and wonderful nurses across multiple wards that who work long shifts under immense pressure with wonderful but fragile children such as Rory.  

Rory was simply wonderful and we are desperately sad to lose him.  He loved the outdoors, sitting in the garden, watching fish, feeding the ducks, wind blowing the trees, people watching on the banks of the Thames, absorbing his surroundings. He distilled some really precious moments of childhood and helped us treasure them - spending time with Rory made us feel so content. He gave the best cuddles, he wiped away your tears, he squeezed your nose and held your hand. He was a gentle character with an easier pace of life. 

He was endlessly cheerful, with beautiful eyes and an infectious smile. Just so, so happy; smiling, laughing, giggling, He took on so much, he was brave, resilient, tenacious, and he kept bouncing back, defying the textbooks and the research. 

And while he spent a lot of time in GOSH, worked his way round 10 different wards and filled 7 volumes of hospital notes folders, the paper version and the child never matched, and that was down to his spirit. Our Rory with his bravery, strength of resolve, massive smile and belly laugh. In hospital, or at home it made no difference to him, he was just a joy to be with.

In Rory's memory we would just like to give something back to the team at GOSH.  Without them Rory's life would have been shorter, more difficult and less fun.  We would like to support them in their work with many other children that need their help.  Many, many thanks for considering a donation.