In 2010 my wife Elissa and I discovered our son Theo was going to be born with several congenital heart defects requiring a controlled birth and immediate open heart surgery at Evelina Children's Hospital at St Thomas's in London. In his first four months of life he in fact needed two heart operations plus a procedure on his brain to address hydrocephalus caused by haemorrhaging that he suffered whilst on by-pass. He may need some other operations in the future but thanks to amazing surgeons, consultants, nurses and support personnel he's currently a very content, happy chappy, six month old.

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To raise money for the charities that support children like Theo, my older son Jack (who's 15) and I are launching the "First Annual Event Venue Expedition" on the 16th and 17th July by both walking the 50 miles between Farnborough's FIVE venue and London's Earls Court in around 20 hours of walking over the 2 days. We'll be following the Basingstoke Canal and rivers Wey and Thames - the 3 connecting waterways between the two venues (a route we chose to raise some interest from my colleagues in the event industry!). You can view the route here:

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http://www.businessnerds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Walk-Route.jpg

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Using JustGiving's team page function, Jack and I are hoping you will help us to support both "Medicinema" and "ECHO" charities. Medicinema provides hospital based cinemas that bring much needed colour and joy to the lives of hospital bound children and adults. Some long days were broken up for us by the theatre at St Thomas's and it was quite a lump in the throat moment seeing wheelchair and even bed bound kids excitedly arriving to see the latest movie. ECHO supports children, and crucially the family of children who are treated at St Thomas's for Congenital Heart Defects. Our contact with parents facing scenarios many times tougher than our own really drove home the importance of the whole-family style of support provided by ECHO.A

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Please make a contribution if you are able to or circulate this fundraiser to others who you think might be interested either by word of mouth, email or by "liking" this page on Facebook. Once a donation is made through the site it is sent directly to the charity and where possible ensures that Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.

 

Thanks everyone, very much appreciate your support.