Believe it or not, it's been 3 years since Harry and Mark ran their 10 marathons in 10 days for kids with brain tumours in the South of England. Since then, Robbie's Rehab has completed a 3 year NHS trial. This January it was all set up to be commissioned by the NHS this June.

But in March the pandemic hit. Uncertainty took hold. Priorities changed.

Our charity decided to support the service 100% for one more year giving the NHS the best chance of emerging unscathed. The NHS will take over the service in 2021 instead.

Unusual circumstances call for unusual commitments! Robbie's Rehab are delighted to have bagged experienced ultra-runner, and friend of the family John Vasey. John and charity founder, Mark Keville, will run 3 marathons in 24 hours. 26.2 + 26.2 + 26.2! Or 126 km, if you prefer. 

They will start at 6.30pm on Saturday 20th June and run 78.6 miles to Odiham Wharf from Worthing Hospital via The Surrey Downslink, The Wey South Path and the Basingstoke Canal to Odiham Wharf where they will finish by having a socially distanced beer or two at 6.30pm on Sunday 21st. 

Have a look at our blog at robbiesrehab.com for up-to-date reports on the pain of the training!

We are hoping to raise £26,200! Please do support us. In doing so, you are directly helping the NHS as we take financial responsibility for Robbie's Rehab for one last year. Thank you!

ROBBIE'S STORY:

Robbie lost his mother, Kate, to cancer when he was only six. He decided that he wanted to become a doctor right there and then. He was certainly capable enough. However, when he himself was diagnosed with a brain tumour only 2 years later, he immediately began having problems with cognitive speed, strength and co-ordination. 

He would have benefitted enormously from specialist rehabilitation. Sadly there was none available on the NHS at that time except for children who were still ill in hospital. Robbie was fortunate: his family were able to pay for the treatment. But not all children were so lucky and had to try to manage without. This resonated deeply with Robbie and his family.

So when they asked Southampton Hospital what they could do to help, the idea for 'Robbie's Rehab' was born. 

Now any child from any of the 13 hospitals in the South of England which are part of the Wessex Cancer district can access Robbie's Rehab for specialist outpatient treatment. The service provides outpatient rehabilitation for kids with brain tumours and is completely free.

To everyone's despair, Robbie died aged 10 in 2016. However some good has come out of it: next year in 2021, Robbie's Rehab will officially become part of the NHS and the charity's remaining funds and ongoing earnings will go towards an inpatient ward set up in memory of an exceptional boy. It will of course be known as 'Robbie's Rehab Ward'.