Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am walking 21 miles (35km) for Dame Vera Lynn Charity which is an average of 42,000 steps. That is more steps than some children with cerebral palsy will walk in their lifetime. Everyone at Dame Vera Lynn work tirelessly to help each and every little hero take their first step. They have provided amazing support to our son Joshua (pictured), helping him toward taking his first step in spite of his quad cerebral palsy, global development delay, infantile spasms (severe epilepsy) and cortical visual impairment (registered blind).

For each story you read, there are many many more out there un-spoken. Charities like Dame Vera Lynn work to support as many children as possible. 

Joshua was born by emergency c-section just two hours away from dying. Thanks to a mother’s (Louise’s) instinct and quick work by the doctors, we were blessed with Joshua. After almost 3 weeks in intensive care we bought him home however his first three years have been spent in and out of hospital’s working with over 30 specialists to ensure Joshua gets the best possible start in life.

When Louise and I were first told of Joshua’s complex needs and given a prognosis that he would not live beyond his teens, hopes and dreams for the future left us. We were facing the unknown and to what end?

However, Joshua is a spirited little boy who fights every day making us realise that we have to focus on the here and now, one day at a time. Hopes and dreams for the future haven’t left us, we just make the best of what we have, providing the best foundation and setting for Joshua to thrive.  We ensure Joshua gets through every day as happy and as contented as possible and that every day he knows he is loved. This will never change.

The life Joshua lives daily is his normal and it is up to us as parents and those supporting him to ensure that his normal is the happiest and most rewarding it can be, so he is confident in himself to take on what-ever life throws at him.

Joshua is battle hardened from a complex start to life and takes everything in his developing stride. As Joshua has got older, gained strength and gained a wickedly awesome personality our hopes and dreams for the future have very much returned!

Your donation will significantly help Dame Vera Lynn provide crucial support to other children such as Joshua giving them and their families hopes and dreams for their futures.