This page is set up Ben to fund raise for a unique opportunity which forms part of recovery from recent life threatening bacterial infection.

Details of the trip can be found here - Trip Details

During the 2024 May bank holiday, Ben was admitted to hospital. After an initial half a day of care in A&E with medical staff working with him, he was transferred to Hastings paediatric unit by ambulance where they later confirmed he had bacterial meningitis and mastoiditis.

What followed was 7 weeks of hospital care, the last few of which enabled Ben to be at home with weekly visits. This entailed multiple needles, MRIs Lumbar Punctures and a couple of CT scans for good measure.

Ben is working on a a recovery period that may be up to 2 years and has taken this opportunity as his recovery goal to coincide with that timeframe and to build back his strength in a structured way ready for the amazing challenge.

Throughout all of the time Ben has been unwell and recovering he has thanked every Nurse/Doctor and remained polite and helpful, even when in pain at all hours. He kept positive and maintained his character even when the rest of us where at points of tears, tired and short of temper and has made us all extremely proud.

Ben has already undertaken tasks, sold some items and has been selling home produced eggs and vegetables to help begin the funding journey. (To date this has not been through Just Giving, he is currently 35% of the way to his target.) With a defined timescale and recovery being part of this, the options for larger scale fundraising is more limited.

The next main challenge Ben is undertaking is to build strength and prepare for his trip and in preparation has set the following goals, Full school return by end of 2024, attempt to climb Mount Snowdon in 2025, fully participating in sports by summer 2025.

We are asking for any contributions however small to help give him the opportunity to reach his goal, put down a marker for the end of his recovery and trump his current memories with some he can cherish for years ahead.

Please also let us know if there are any odd jobs Ben can do in exchange for funds as he is keen to earn his way to this trip wherever possible

Whilst asking for donations we also want to acknowledge and thank all those through the tougher parts of this year. Family, Friends, Colleagues, Our Employers, Ben’s school and all his friends and rugby team for their support.