Just a quick update to thank you all so much for your donations. Once again, we've smashed the target we set. The trek was tough... much tougher than I imagined, but immensely rewarding with plenty of time to think about Sonny and how proud he would have been. Once again, a huge thank you to you all.

 

Our son, Sonny was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. After nearly two years in and out of hospital, countless treatments and relapses, Sonny lost his very brave battle in May 2011.

During his treatment, Sonny was often at home, but the harsh chemotherapy and eventual bone marrow transplant meant he was always in danger of contracting an illness that could easily have been life threatening. Despite our best efforts to give him a normal life, finding new, exciting and safe things for a ten-year-old boy to do every day was tough. Which is why the Play Barn Project is such a great idea.

The concept is very simple: build a safe, secure and sterile environment where children with different types of cancer can play, learn and simply be around kids their own age. To have this when Sonny was ill would have been a huge bonus.

So, this year I'm helping to raise funds by trekking the same 'savagely tough' route across the Pyrenees from France to Spain used by Allied Servicemen trying to reach Northern Africa during the war (Sonny would have loved that fact). Over £185,000 of the £250,000 needed has so far been banked and Gary and the team have worked tirelessly to get it to this stage. With your help (and my blisters) we should get that bit closer.

I think it goes without saying that Sonny would have loved the Play Barn Project and been proud of his dad for this year's big fundraising push. With that in mind, please give whatever you can.

Thank you.