I am doing a tanden skydive from 10,000 feet on the 23rd of September. The reason to why I am doing this and want to raise money is because of my godmothers son(lewis) has cystic fibrosis and it would be amazing if they could find a way to cure it as there isn't a way at the moment. Lewis is like a little brother to me and every time I see him he always puts a smile on my face. Lewis's dad has wrote the rest for me about everything he goes through and how Anna's challenges had helped them so much already. Anna's challenges is a charity that raises money and awareness for children with cystic fibrosis in Basingstoke and surrounding areas.As a family with a child suffering from cystic fibrosis under the care of North Hampshire Hospital we have access to a lot of support from the health care team for Lewis’s condition and some of the many emotional effects his condition can have on us as parents. They cannot however support us all the time or indeed help with balancing our time between our two children. Lewis’s Sister Tailor helps a lot with his daily routine and is a wonderful sibling for him but as a parent I get very conscious that Lewis has the main focus of our attention day to day, and as hard as we may try there are times when her needs cannot be fully met due to his specialist care.

Anna’s challenges has recently set up a support group for the siblings of all CF patients in the area allowing them to have “treats” with bowling trips, cinema visits and just meals out. These are a great success with the siblings sharing thoughts and getting great support from each other, as well as some good quality special time for them!

Lewis has had support with exercise apparatus and “toys” to help his breathing exercises and physiotherapy routines. These have included blow up bouncy toys, blow football and bubble machines to a trampoline.

We have also had seminars and learning evenings at the hospital funded by the charity that would not have been possible on the healthcare trusts budget, these are obviously of great benefit, with the knowledge gained assisting greatly with our understanding of Lewis’s condition and best methods/developments in treatment and care.

Finally with each bout of acute illness Lewis requires two weeks of hospital residential care for IV antibiotics and close monitoring under quarantine conditions. This is a massive strain on the family requiring one of us as parents to stay on the ward with him and only leave the room for short periods and under strict controls due to the isolation nursing required. Our first stay was honestly dire the ward is set up for children with small beds (a pull out bed is supplied for the parents) no space to keep clothes or a suitcase. Mummy needs a lot of clothes for two weeks! Limited phone connectivity and television that stops at 7pm to ensure the children sleep. Not only was the situation stressful while Lewis as a 3 month old baby requiring full time attention while he was awake. In the short times he was asleep whoever was with him had nothing to keep them occupied accept the worry about the situation or word search book! Over the past few years Anna’s Challenges has been able to donate decoration of some key rooms, new items of furniture for use by the entire children’s ward. A small fridge for both his medicines and special diet items and for some food for the person staying with him as obviously the hospital food is for the patient carers need to fend for themselves! The addition of an Ipad used very successfully to distract attention during some of the more stressful treatments and decoration has really alleviated the stress on Lewis during a stay. And the TV supplied that does not turn off like the others stops mummy going mad in the evening… I have missed lots but the provisions made by Anna’s Challenges really do make life dealing with Lewis’s condition that little bit easier for us all.