My gorgeous friend and I will be walking 50km (with no training) taking on the Thames Path Ultra Challenge to raise money for Breathe Charity who help children with disabilities.

Breathe deliver innovative creative healthcare programmes which are underpinned by robust scientific research. Their award winning programmes improve the physical and mental health of NHS staff, patients and those in the community. One of these programmes is Breathe Magic which my son Ru took part in this summer.

Both of our 7 year old son, had several strokes just before they were born born causing significant damage to their brains. They are partially paralysed down the left side of their body, have limited sensations down his left arm hand and fingers and whole body coordination difficulties. They struggle with daily tasks we take for granted and have had a life FULL of therapy and hospital appointments to work against the disability they acquired at birth. They have both had several operations.

It has been our full family focus to provide therapy through specialised play and the intensive early intervention has had an incredible impact on their development. Throughout their life they have done various therapies and intensive blocks. Conductive education, CIMTherapy, Physio and Breathe Magic.

This summer they have just completed 60 hours in two weeks of intensive therapy with Breathe Magic, learning Magic tricks with Magicians from the Magic circle together with Occupational therapists that harness the bimanual actions you need to complete such tasks of daily living like doing up your zips, opening food packets, tying your shoelaces, putting your t-shirt on etc. They have done incredibly well, worked so hard and we have had some significantly positive effects.

This therapy is expensive but for us it was necessary. To be able to increase their skills so he can have more independence, to be surrounded by other children with similar disabilities and to gain confidence. I want to raise money for this charity as you can see exactly where there money goes, it is not for profit, and to give to the children with hemiplegia who will be doing the programme next summer, so they can get the price at the subsidized rate to make it more affordable for families like ourselves.

I believe that if our sons have to walk with his leg splint causing him blisters, or pain in his legs and joints for the rest of their lives then I can absolutely endure 50km or 10 hours + of blisters and pain.

I bet you can't NOT cry watching this!

https://youtu.be/V5D5ZdU_eig?feature=shared

You can find out more about their work: https://breatheahr.org/

Thank you for your support!