Succsess!! Thanks to an amazing support team and friends and family I finished the BG in 22hours 51minutes! 

Thanks to all the donations we have hit our £25k target! Check out the main page for Aidan to see the overall progress, (all donations here are added to this aidans main page)

http://www.justgiving.com/AppealForAid

So what is the Bob Graham Round (BG) i hear you ask? The BG is one of the UKs toughest fell running challenges, its a 72 mile ultramarathon that includes climbing 42 of the highest mountains in the english lake district with a total ascent of 8000m (almost the same height as everest). Thats right not 3 peaks...42! The Challenge is to complete the circuit that starts and finishes in keswick in under 24 hours. So thats 72 miles, 42 mountains, 8000m of ascent and all in under 24 hours! I have a great group of friends that will help keep me fed and watered and pacers that will take it in turns to run with me and keep me on track. This will be the hardest most challenging thing i have ever done and i am glad that i can use it to try and help my nephew Aidan.

Donate by txt if you prefere, txt BGFA60 £amount to 70070 eg BGFA60 £2

Check out the video by Trail Running magazine and their take on the BG, Its in the gallery.

Anyone who wants to turn up and offer their support or just make sure im not faking this is most welcome. Ill be setting off from the Moot hall in Keswick at 7pm on sat 13th July 2013 and aiming to get back before 7pm on the 14th. Further details of my schedule and contact details are availible just send me a message.

(Insert from Aidans page)

Aidan - aka Aid - is a six-year-old boy who has cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia). We’re raising money for an operation that’ll help him walk better. 

A bit about Aidan

Aidan and his twin brother, Cameron, were born early at 32 weeks and spent the first six weeks of their lives in a special care unit. Aidan seemed to be developing normally - until we noticed he wasn’t reaching his physical milestones.

He first sat up unassisted at 12 months and he couldn’t walk alone until he was two-and-a-half. He now walks independently but he’s high on his toes. He can’t plant his heels on the floor, which makes him very unbalanced, and he falls frequently. He can’t walk for long distances and his muscles aren’t strong enough to allow him to stand still. He can’t wiggle his toes.

Despite all this, Aidan is a very active boy and he’s utterly determined to play for Manchester United. He loves playing football with his friends but he’s generally put in goal. He doesn’t mind being the keeper, though and he’s really brave, throwing himself to the floor to make saves - probably because he’s so used to falling over!

He’d love to be able to ride a bike and to run as fast (or nearly as fast) as his friends and his brother. He adores watching and trying to play sports.  He especially likes cricket and has excellent hand-to-eye co-ordination - his batting is remarkably good. It’s just a shame his legs can’t keep up.

A bit about the operation

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is a neuro-surgical procedure that cuts carefully selected nerves in the spinal cord. This will reduce muscle tightness (spasticity) in Aidan’s legs, allowing him to get his heels flat to the floor. It will improve his balance and give him a much steadier gait. It’ll also eliminate the need for orthopaedic surgery later in his life.

If Aidan doesn’t have the operation, he’ll most probably suffer long-term deformity and may require a wheelchair to get around.

SDR is quite new to the UK but it’s now being offered by a handful of hospitals across the country. The NHS had been funding this operation, but recent changes to the application process have led to funding being totally withdrawn.  

So, we have a very challenging target to hit in a very short space of time as the operation is scheduled for the 29th August. And Aid has a very difficult journey after that, starting with two years of intensive post-op physiotherapy.

But we believe anything is possible. And, most importantly, so does he.