Chris Johnson

Chris's page

Fundraising for Encephalitis International
£1,408
raised of £550 target
by 54 supporters
Donations cannot currently be made to this page
Event: London Marathon 2017, on 23 April 2017
In memory of George Willson
Encephalitis International

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1087843
We support those affected by Encephalitis to improve their quality of life.

Story

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In November 2013, my 18 month old nephew, George, passed away in his sleep, from brainstem encephalitis. Encephalitis can be caused by any number of common viruses, but no-one really knows why; in most people, such viruses just lead to colds, stomach bugs, measles, etc.; whilst in rare cases they attack the brain instead. There are symptoms, but in toddlers, it is basically unnoticeable from most day to day toddler illnesses – headaches, drowsiness, irritability and loss of appetite. The noticeable symptoms require being able to speak and explain how you feel, which toddlers can’t do. The encephalitis that George suffered from - brainstem encephalitis – is even rarer, but because of what it attacks, the onset can be very quick, and much harder to survive.

George was actually showing no symptoms that evening, except for being a little more tired than usual. But just a few hours later he had lost his life, and my sister Hannah and her husband Tom lives had changed forever. Hannah was pregnant with Isabelle at the time, and has subsequently introduced Jessica to the world too. George never got to meet his little sisters, and both girls are having to grow up without the love and protection of their big brother. Hannah and Tom will never be able to have even one photo with their whole family in it.

Little is known about why a virus that for George’s friends probably resulted in just a typical toddler illness, but in George’s case had fatal consequences. There needs to be more research completed as virtually every question on the subject remains unanswered. While thankfully pretty rare, it can hit anyone, at any time, regardless of how fit and healthy you might be. In addition, because of the rarity of brainstem encephalitis in particular, it’s also unknown how susceptible Isabelle and Jessica could be to it too. For both these reasons I want to raise money for research into this disease which will impact upon my family for the rest of our lives, and many other people across the country.

As many of you will know, I am pretty much a sport and fitness addict. However, the training and (hopefully!) eventual completing of the 26.2 miles will certainly have tested me in both mind and body, taking me to dark places I have not yet visited! 

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About the charity

Encephalitis International

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1087843
Encephalitis International is the only non-profit of any size anywhere in the world providing direct support and information to people affected by encephalitis (brain inflammation), raising awareness, and furthering our understanding of the condition through research.

Donation summary

Total raised
£1,408.00
+ £337.00 Gift Aid
Online donations
£1,408.00
Offline donations
£0.00

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