Archie’s Story

For anyone who isn’t familiar, here is the story of our little warrior Archie Vaughan.

Archie arrived on Christmas Day in 2017, a happy, healthy, and beautiful baby. A little brother for Lily and Harry, their family was now complete. Hayley and Craig, such a proud Mummy and Daddy made the most of life as a family of 5. Archie took everything in his stride, always having fun, going to playgroup and starting nursery, just loving life!

Things started to change for Archie in June 2021, he was still his happy, chatty little self but his head started to tilt to one side. After visiting the doctors and then hospital every parent’s worst nightmare was confirmed, Archie had a brain tumour. After further tests it was discovered that Archie’s tumour was an aggressive type that was nearly always fatal. Archie’s family and friends were devastated, such heart-breaking news that was impossible to accept.

Hayley and Craig needed to get away, to be together as a family and have some space to let the news sink in. So where did they go? To Archie’s favourite place, the beach!

After lots of research and hospital meetings surgery took place on 15th July at Alder Hey hospital with a top paediatric surgeon Connor Mallucci. Fundraising had already started with the help of “Archie’s Army” to make sure that he would have access to critical proton beam therapy after the surgery, this would help to prevent a relapse. Archie’s surgery took an incredible 10 hours and to everyone’s amazement within a couple of days he was asking for chicken nuggets and having rides around the hospital in his buggy.

Sadly though, the news we had all been praying for wasn’t to be, it was just too dangerous to remove all of the tumour as it was too close to Archie’s brain stem. Proton beam therapy was now no longer an option, but the surgery had bought brave Archie and his family some time and from then not a single minute was wasted!

Once Archie left hospital another trip to the seaside was arranged so that he could get back on the beach. Hayley and Craig showed incredible strength and with support from family and friends some amazing experiences followed. These included day trips, parties, holidays to Spain and even a Disney Cruise quickly followed. They wanted to make as many special memories as they could as a family and my goodness, they did! Archie’s story touched so many people along the way.

Then came the question of what will happen to the money so generously donated by people that could now no longer be used for Archie’s further treatment? Hayley and Craig wanted to directly help other families going through a similar experience and help them make special memories with loved ones. This led to the idea of “Archie’s Caravan”, a brand-new holiday home on the beach that other families could use to get away.

It was perfect, we know Archie’s favourite place in the world was the beach! He’d be playing, laughing, having an ice cream, and getting very messy! Getting away for a short break provided Hayley and Craig the chance to escape the reality of Archie’s illness and gave Lily, Harry and Archie some special sibling time together.

Archie’s caravan was to be a special place for families with a child that have had a cancer diagnosis or are going through treatments can escape to. A clean, safe, fully accessible luxury static caravan complete with little extras and surprises for these much deserving families. For them to have some laughter and light in their darkest times, giving them the chance to make some special memories. Crucially for these families all of this is to be provided completely free of charge.

Reighton Sands Holiday Park in Filey was chosen as the perfect place. With the help and kindness from the staff at Haven a caravan was secured, and work undertaken to make sure it’s fully wheelchair accessible. As poorly as Archie was at this point, he managed a little visit to see the caravan and told Hayley “Mummy I love this caravan”. He always knew this was to be Archie’s Caravan.

Archie passed away at home on November 7th 2021 leaving his family, friends and the community that had got to know and love him throughout his journey devastated.

The Challenge

And what a challenge this will be! A charity bike ride has been organised from Morley to Reighton Sands in Filey for the official opening of Archie’s Caravan. It will take place on Saturday 30th April 2022 and 36 riders have signed up to complete the 86 mile ride for the opening ceremony in the evening. Many of the riders have never undertaken a ride like this, so it is a big challenge! Our training is already underway but with Archie in our hearts and minds we will do it!

The Aim

The aim is to raise as much money as possible for the Archie’s Caravan Charity to make sure that the annual fees can be covered along with providing the families who stay in the caravan some nice surprises. We want to help families make happy memories and provide them with a much needed break.

And Finally

Thank you in advance to anyone who donates and to everyone putting themselves forward to take part. Thank you to Reighton Sands for the continued support and to Gav’s Bikes for the generous donation of a road bike to be used and auctioned for the charity. The support has been amazing and very much appreciated.