On Friday 23rd August the Reuben's Ramblers (Mick Royle, Penny Campbell, Monica Gillespie, Chris Pratt, Jill Harrison, Sean Langton, Jez Woodside, Jim Mills, Darren Fearn, Ian Burton, Mark Rathburn and Kev Swift) will be embarking on a 3 day ramble from Derby to Broadbottom - 60 MILES!!!!!!! During the ramble we will be away from all of our home comforts and instead camping. The ramble will finish at Broadbottom Cricket Club on Sunday 25th August. 

The reason for us taking on this challenge is to fund raise for Reuben's Retreat a charity close to all of our hearts. 

Reuben's story..... 

Reuben was enjoying a family holiday in Devon; he was his usual happy self, having fun crabbing with his older brother Isaac. Reuben had been ill for 3 weeks on and off and despite several Doctors visits, nobody was unduly worried. 

Reuben had a fall and became pale and distressed, his worried parents took him to A & E at Barnstaple Hospital and when Reuben failed to respond to some routine tests he was sent for a CT scan. The scan showed a large mass on his brain they suspected to be a tumour.

He was quickly transferred to the neurological unit at Frenchay Hospital by air ambulance where he underwent hours of surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. Plans were quickly put in place for further surgery but sadly Reuben arrested during the night and his organs began to fail, despite fighting his way through another 5 hour operation some two days later he was too poorly to undergo any further surgery. He was transferred again to PICU at Bristol Children’s Hospital so they could help his organs to recover.  Reuben fell asleep in his Mummy’s arms on Tuesday 21st August 2012.

Despite the devastating grief that comes when a quarter of your family is gone, his brave and inspirational parents have set up a charity in his name, they plan to have a retreat in the north west countryside for children with life limiting and life threatening illnesses, with a support and bereavement counselling centre for Mummy’s, Daddy’s and Siblings who have lost their precious children. A place where families can take in the rolling hills and countryside, a place of comfort, peace and tranquillity, a place where memories can be built.

So please dig deep and donate now.