During a family holiday in early 2019, it was noticed that Benny (Julie & Kevin’s' youngest child, aged 6) wasn't feeling well, so a trip to the local walk-in centre was in order. Following this visit they were told to go to King's Lynn Hospital for a scan, on the way home. This scan revealed an issue and before they knew it, they were off to Addenbrookes Hospital for a further scan. After the CT and MRI scans Julie & Kevin were given the devastating news that Benny has DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) in other words, cancer of the brain stem.

Since diagnosis Benny has had numerous visits to hospitals and gone through radiotherapy, steroid treatment… He has been such a strong fighter through it all.

A group of very special people have made the commitment to run the 2020 Brighton marathon on 19th April https://www.brightonmarathonweekend.co.uk/ along with Bennys’ Dad, Kevin. Some of the runners are members of North Norfolk Beach Runners the rest are all friends of the Pitcher family.

All of the runners will be running for three causes. The first will be to help fund an extension at the Pitchers home in East Runton. East Anglia's Children’s Hospice (EACH) and the Cromer Children’s Charity are the other two causes we are raising money for.

EACH have been chosen as they are a charity that have and will help the Pitchers along this journey. The Pitchers, who were the first family to stay overnight at the East Anglia's Children's Hospices' new £10 million facility, The Nook, are hoping to use some of the cash raised by the community to build a home extension adapted to Benny's needs as his illness progresses.

Cromer Children’s Charity is another charity that has been helping the Pitchers. So far, they have provided the family with a family holiday. The charity was registered in 1990 with the charities commission (reg: 802490), the Chairman of the charity is Philip Balls.

The main object to the Cromer Children’s Charity is to relieve sickness and preserve and protect the good health of the children resident within five miles of Cromer Parish Church.

“The generosity of our supporters and the general public means that we are in a position to discuss the special needs of sick children with their parents and G.P.s to offer financial assistance to provide treatment and/or equipment which would not otherwise be available and will improve the quality of life for these children.”

Since the charity has been formed it has manged to provide children and their families to

Specialised walking equipment, chairs and beds

Learning books and technology

Glasses that were not available on the NHS

Nebulisers

Defibrillates in every school in Cromer, and Northrepps school

Holidays for sick children and their families