Our little Hari was born safe and well in 2008, despite the belief of the medical profession that he wouldn't make it. He soon showed us his infectious personality and a real hunger for life. However, he began showing signs of delayed development and the stress and concerns started all over again.

Hari had numerous tests and his development is still being closely monitored, however, he was found to have hyper-mobility in his joints resulting in an inability to crawl and walk.

As part of his treatment, Hari had a course of hydrotherapy in our local hospital. The staff worked hard to build his muscle strength and core stability in a series of sessions in the pool. Soon after, Hari took his first steps at the age of two. We were overjoyed!

Hari's big brother Dylan has been there during every step of this journey. He has watched Hari in his hydrotherapy sessions and encouraged and supported him at every opportunity. Dylan also questioned the shortage of time that was available in the pool and we discovered that it was a shared resource. The pool could only be used by children's physiotherapy for a limited amount of sessions per week.

This clearly remained in Dylan's mind because he recently came home from school with information about the 'Noah's Ark Appeal'. He was really excited that the appeal were raising money for a dedicated hydrotherapy pool for children. He asked if he could do something special for his little brother and other children in South Wales.

Dylan has decided that he will walk the three peaks of the Abergavenny area, Skirrid (1601 feet), Sugarloaf (1955 feet) and Pen-Y-Fan (2907 feet). As proud parents (with the help of family and friends) we will be helping Dylan undertake this challenge on Saturday 6th August 2011. All donations to support him will be gratefully received. Oh, did I forget to mention, Dylan is just six years old!!

Please give as generously as you can........... Thanks!

 

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Splish, Splash, Splosh for the Noah's Ark Appeal are raisng money for a dedicated hydrotherapy pool at the Children's Hospital for Wales.

 

Why do we need a pool?

Beacause we don't have one!  Hydrotherapy is a form of physiotherapy carried out in a heated purpose-built pool.  Currently paediatric patients are treated in the adult hydrotherapy pool, but this is only available for one hour per week.  This means that around 500 children who would benefit from hydrotherapy treatmeant miss out each year!

 

How much money do we need?

We need £500,000 to buy a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool complete with changing rooms, shower facilities and hoists to lift patients who may require assistance in and out of the pool.

 

Who will it help?

Children with a wide range of conditions will benefit from the use of a hydrotherapy pool.

Development delay patients - Downs syndrome, cerebral palsy (like Dylan's little brother Hari)

Neurology patients - Acute head injuries, paediatric stroke

Neurosurgical patients - Removal of tumours, cerebal bleeds

Orthopaedic patients - Spinal injury patients in rehab, multi-trauma

Oncology patients - Bone cancer, brain tumour

Respiratory patients - Asthma

 

There are many stories of children overcoming adversity as many of us know, but they often need our help and support to enable them to do it!

Dylan is training hard for his challenge, and dragged Mam and Dad up The Skirrid mountain on Sunday 26th June 2011, and he was like a whippet!! It took him less than an hour to reach the summit.

Keep checking the page for his updates and you can also follow him on facebook and twitter!

 

Please dig deep and donate all that you can spare for this very worth while cause!!

 

Thank you,

Dylan

 

Sunday 26th June 2011 Dylan, Hari, Eleri and Mam and Dad start the practice walking, with a wander up the Skirrid, in fairness it was a little more than a wander,but Dylan was up there like a whippet!!

 

Friday 1st July 2011, WOW!!!  We've been going less than a week and you each helped us hit Dylan's target and he's chuffed to bits!!

 

Sunday 3rd July 2011, or second training day!  Dylan, Hari, Eleri and Daddy scaled the Sugar Loaf mountain.....what can be said?  Dylan once again was like a racing snake and we just slowed him down, I mean really slowed him down!!  Kids are off for a bath and bed, suitably worn out.....Daddy's off to find a good sports massage!!  We've reached £648 this weekend, please keep donating what you can!

 

 

Friday 8th July 2011, Dylan's off on his holidays today for a couple of weeks, but before he gose he wants to say a great big thank you to each and every one of you!  His original target of £500 has been shattered and today we went through the £1000 barrier and are comfortably on our way to £1100!  Thank you all very much, love Dylan xxx.

 

Saturday 23rd July 2011, Dylan and the clan Carlyon are back off their holidays and Dylan is so pleased to see that the donating hasn't stopped whilst he's been away, we're at the £1250 mark now, so thanks again from Dylan xxx.  Dylan is back to his training plan this week and will be taking on Pen-y-Fan....just keep watching this space!!

 

Wednesday 27th July 2011, Mammy and Dylan took on Pen-y-Fan today and were triumphant!!  It took Dylan a couple of hours, but it was within his stride and even managed to stop and raise some donations from fellow walkers on the way!!  A great big thank you to all those walkers on the mountain today for their contribution and words of encouragement.  Dylan's now fast asleep and knows exactly what to expect on the day...  Mammy's in need of a hot bath, a foot balm and a glass of wine....closely followed by her bed!!

Today (27/07/11) the fund raising has gone over the £1300 barrier and Dylan is truely excited and wants to say a great big THANK YOU! xxx

 

Saturday 30th July 2011, yet another training day!!  Dylan, Hari and Eleri dragged dear old Daddy up the Sugar Loaf again and then the Blorenge, this is no mean feat, Sugar Loaf at 1955 feet and the Blorenge at 1841 feet.  Once again it didn't phase the kids at all this time either, although it has to be said, come tea time they weren't as patient as they can be!!  Daddy however could quite comfortably have a large bowl of porridge, the biggest chair and largest bed....not to mention the snore and sore head to match!!

We've also over come another hurdle today as well as climbing two peaks!  We've now raised over £1500!!!  A great big thank you from Dylan xxxx

  

Monday 1 August, incredible, we are six pounds short of

 

 

£1750  today which is a fantastic figure and people are still donating!! Thank you all so very much! Love Dylan xxx

 

Wednesday 3rd August 2011, it's incredible, we've gone over £1900, and people are not only now pledging and donating people are even volunteering to raise sponsorship for Dylan's efforts on his behalf, which is wonderful!  Thank you everyone who has given and intends to and also to all those collecting for us!  Thank you, lots of love Dylan xxx

ITV News Wales interviewed Dylan at length yesterday and they hope to air the story this week on the 6pm news so keep your eyes on the news!

Thursday 4th August, preparations are well in hand we are gathering all the necessary kit and equipment!  There will be a stand at the foot of each walk from the time we start walking on that mountain to the time we finish it, please come and support Dylan.  You'll be able to buy official Noah's Ark tie and lapel pins, and official Noah's Ark Teddy Bears.  You'll also be able to read and see the whole of Dylan and Hari's story,and meet them with their sister Eleri!  Dylan is over the moon today we have gone over £2000 and are well on our way to £2100!!!

Thank you to every one who has contributed and an especially big thank you to all those willing volunteers who are raising money for as well!!

Thank you, love Dylan xxx

6th August 2011 - The Big Day!

The fun began at 6am when Dylan woke to find his 'Team Dylan' t-shirt waiting for him. After a quick breakfast, and all dressed in our uniform Team t-shirts, we made our way to our first challenge, Pen Y Fan. The Director of the Noah's Ark Appeal met us at the foot of the mountain, took some photos and offered words of encouragement.  We unloaded the packed car of posters, flyers, teddybears/pins (to sell) and grandparents to raise money at the bottom (not to mention provide vital childcare for the youngest team member, one year old Eleri).

The mountain loomed in front of us, but spirits were high and determination was in ready supply. Even little Hari was insistant that he would make it to the top (for the first time). After the photo shoot (!) we began the climb at 8:50am. One hour and twenty five minutes later we took the summit! Hari included. Dylan was chuffed to bits and showed off the views to his Daddy, who had walked Pen Y Fan for the first time. Alfie and Rocky (the labradors) were also pleased with themselves and pinched someone's sandwich to celebrate!!

On our way down, many more walkers had arrived and were stopping us to ask about our challenge.The buckets were jingling with the sound of donations from walkers of many nationalities. All were impressed with the story and spurred us on! Some even recognised Dylan from 'Wales Tonight'. Fame at 6 years old!! Thanks to those of you who donated....

We took time to refuel and packed away our fundraising stall. Sugar Loaf next and off we moved, in convoy, to face our next challenge. Dylan was amazing. With blister plasters firmly in place and a motivational talk delivered, he was ready to take the second peak. So, at 1:50pm we began the climb again, leaving our team and fundraising stand at the bottom.

The gradual start to Sugar Loaf allowed the leg muscles to free up again before starting the steeper ascent to the top. Dylan seemed to cruise up with relative ease, possibly fuelled by the amount of Skittles he was eating!! At 2:50pm we made it to the top.

Once again, we were overwhelmed with the support from fellow walkers and there were many generous donations placed into our collection bucket. THANKS!!

After a quick refreshment break on the top (and a power nap for Dylan), we made a fairly speedy decent to the cars. The fundraisers at the bottom were chuffed with their takings, receiving over £40 in donations and selling pins.

As we made our way to The Skirrid, the heavens opened and it started to rain. Spirits were not dampened at all. We were more determined than ever to get the final climb done... Dylan was looking forward to his diet coke and curry!

 With aching legs (but warm hearts) we started our final climb. Dylan and his Bampi led the weary pack up 'God's Mountain' (The Skirrid) towards the final summit. At 4:45pm we began the steep climb through the trees. Even the rain stopped for us to finish our day dry. The sun shines on the righteous!!

The rest breaks were longer and more frequent. Every single one of us was feeling the weight of the challenge as we trudged on to the top. With pride and joy we watched Dylan run the last ten paces and touch the top... After exactly 9 hours, we made it to the top of the final peak. 5:50pm and all was well. Better than well actually. For the benefit of children across Wales, our fantastic little boy had made it, blisters and all!

We cannot express in words how proud we are to have climbed nearly 6,300 feet in one day. But we can honestly say that it pales into insignificance next to the achievement for Dylan.

"To our special little climber, we thank you for a day that filled us with pride. It was a day that we will remember forever. Despite aching legs and a tired body, you took many, many steps. Those steps were taken in the hope that other children, like your little bother Hari, overcome their own challenges, climb many mountains and look at the view from the top! Da Iawn Cariad xxx"

Sunday 7th August, Dylan's amazing fund raising total stands at £2635.  We know that others have pledged and donated to friends, family and colleagues, and we hope the total keeps rising! 

Thursday 11th August, Dylan has recovered fully from his walk and his couple of blisters have healed up almost completely!  He's really proud of his achievement and is actively helping to collect up all of his sponsorship!  Today we passed another milestone, we have so far raised £3189!!  Which is fantastic, Dylan is over the moon!! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far and so many more of you are still contacting us and making a pledge, it is truely inspirational!!  Thank you, love from Dylan xxx

Friday 12th August, absolutely incredible we've hit another milestone today our fundraising currently stands at £3536!!!  We couldn't have done it without the help of Kelly Evan's and her staff at Cash Generator in Newport who have been using a Noah's Ark collection bucket and Dylan's story to raise funds to help Dylan, thank you all and especially all those people who have given so generously over the past week!!  Thank you, love Dylan xxx

Sunday 14th August,  Dylan's keeping his hand in and forcing Dad's hand.  Daddy, Dylan, Hari and Eleri climbed Twmpa (Lord Hereford's knob), at 2263 feet today in the Black mountains, and we'd recommend it to anyone, spectacular!  Dylan's fundraising total keeps rising too, now at £3659!!  Thank you everyone!!  xxx

We are only £71 off our £4500 target so come and spread a little Christmas Joy for those less fortunate than ourselves and dig deep please!

 

Why stop there?  There are still so many of you who have said you'd donate that we now think we should aim for the £4500!  Lets see if we can do it....

Thanks again, Dylan x