Chris & Sally Banyard
Sally's page
Fundraising for The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
After the disappointment of not being able to run the 2018 London Marathon due to a foot injury (which as I write this - January 2019 - I am *still* receiving physio for), I am delighted that my place has been confirmed in 2019 and I can finally run for this amazing Charity.
So, I go again in the 2019 London Marathon, as in 2018 (before injury) with the intention of trying to raise as much as I can to support Felix Baulch and his family by raising awareness and as much money as I can for the Charity that have helped them immensely, The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT). Here's Felix's story......
When Felix was a tiny baby he was diagnosed with bi-lateral Retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of both his eyes. Felix is now 10 years old and has been fighting this disease his whole life.
For the past 10 years Felix has spent many, many days at The Royal London Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital enduring countless tests and treatment to ascertain the stability of his tumours and decide upon necessary procedures to continue stability or (in some cases) make life-saving decisions too dreadful for most of us to even bear thinking about. During these visits for treatment Felix has displayed a bravery that would put most adults to shame. I am very aware that Felix's Rb has been a rollercoaster of events with several relapses, Felix losing his right eye just as he started school and having to endure second line chemo. His parents and two brothers deal with their heartbreak and trauma with a quiet dignity that I have always admired. They have challenged decisions, especially after Felix's last relapse three years ago which took everyone by surprise and they were faced with a decision of whether to have Felix's second eye removed or to watch Felix endure weekly chemo treatments under a General Anaesthetic in a hope that his remaining eye would be saved. Felix's parents' decision was for Felix to have the chemo and I watched as the family went through months of uncertainty with a very poorly Felix. Four years on and the chemo treatment has been successful, however, Felix is still at the hospital regularly and has since had a cataract operation.
When Felix was a tiny baby he was diagnosed with bi-lateral Retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of both his eyes. Felix is now 10 years old and has been fighting this disease his whole life.
For the past 10 years Felix has spent many, many days at The Royal London Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital enduring countless tests and treatment to ascertain the stability of his tumours and decide upon necessary procedures to continue stability or (in some cases) make life-saving decisions too dreadful for most of us to even bear thinking about. During these visits for treatment Felix has displayed a bravery that would put most adults to shame. I am very aware that Felix's Rb has been a rollercoaster of events with several relapses, Felix losing his right eye just as he started school and having to endure second line chemo. His parents and two brothers deal with their heartbreak and trauma with a quiet dignity that I have always admired. They have challenged decisions, especially after Felix's last relapse three years ago which took everyone by surprise and they were faced with a decision of whether to have Felix's second eye removed or to watch Felix endure weekly chemo treatments under a General Anaesthetic in a hope that his remaining eye would be saved. Felix's parents' decision was for Felix to have the chemo and I watched as the family went through months of uncertainty with a very poorly Felix. Four years on and the chemo treatment has been successful, however, Felix is still at the hospital regularly and has since had a cataract operation.
