Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have been lucky enough to get a London Marathon place for the 2nd time and thought I would put it to good use so I have decided to run in fire kit and carry a breathing apparatus set to Raise money for Team Charlie. 

Charlie was a friend of my oldest son throughout primary school and we have tried to support Team Charlie as best we can but thought this opportunity was too good to miss. 

Born in Emmer Green near Reading, it was in March 2015, when Charlie was just 8 years old, he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, the most high-grade brain tumour found in children, following weeks of unexplained vomiting and neck pain. He endured emergency surgery to remove the tumour and went through several rounds of chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. Following treatment, he went into remission in 2015, but in March 2018 the cancer returned after a routine scan picked up five tumours on his spine.

Charlie always brought out the best in people. But in early 2020 the pandemic meant treatment was abruptly halted. Forced into self-isolation with Charlie, Toni, Charlies Mum, was undeterred. After further extensive research and weeks of many doors closing in her face, Charlie was accepted on a trial to receive ground-breaking immunotherapy in Mexico. Generously a major airline reached out to personally fly Charlie and his family to Mexico City, which was to be the first of three trips. 

On the evening of 12th December 2020, Charlie's plane touched down at Heathrow. Heartbreakingly, he never made it home. He was taken straight to the Royal Berkshire Hospital after suddenly becoming paralysed. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid occurs within the brain. In short, the tumours in his spine had blocked his spinal fluid, creating a fatal build-up in his brain.

Team Charlie has been set up to help support families in a small way who are experiencing tough times with their own child battling a brain tumour. Toni is only acutely aware of how much it meant to have the support she received from various charities when she struggled to make ends meet while transporting Charlie to countless medical appointments and looking after him in his time of need. Whether to pay for fuel costs or offer some respite with a short family break away, she fully appreciates the difference it can make and wanted to give something back. 

I appreciate the cost of living is at record levels but like the marginal gains principle in sport where making 100 things 1% better has greater impact than making 1 thing 100% better, lots of small contributions can make a massive difference. Please donate what you can afford and share his story and the great work Team Charlie is doing to make a massive difference to children and families who need the positivity and support. 

Thanks 

Matt