Hey everyone, my name is Derren, if you have a spare moment, I’d like to tell you a little about my story!! I was born with a bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand Disease, at first this was ok and I managed by myself with little hospital trips but last year things started to get worse, I started to have lots of big horrible nosebleeds, or when I bumped myself I could have a bleed in my joints these were no fun at all and meant I spent a lot of time in hospital or visiting lots of different hospitals and meant a lot of changes were to happen.

A couple of times last year I had some very very BIG nose bleeds, I had to go on a new treatment plan, and this meant having lots of tests, needles, infusions, blood transfusions, operations, a port-a-cath inserted and long stays in hospital. Me and my family would visit our local Hospital children ward up to 7 times a week to have my infusions done, we have had to learn how to manage this as there isn’t a way to completely cure the blood disorder.

The Snowdrop Trust is a local charity who provide children's community nurses to children with life threatening illnesses, by offering this support it helps children like me not spend as much time in hospital and enables me to have some of my treatment in the comfort of my own home and spend more time with all my family.

For a little while now, I have been visited and supported by the amazing Snowdrop nurses every 48hrs, and they give me my infusions without these my bleeding would be a disaster, they check my observations, help with my medication, access/de-access my port the list goes on, by becoming part of the Snowdrop family I was able to have my infusions done on my sofa in my pyjamas (everyone that knows me knows I love my PJ’s) I also started going to school a lot more, as I was having a lot of time off to go to the hospital everyday, so I didn’t get to see my friends as much ☹ 

The nurses always come over with a big smile on their face and make some of the scary moments feel much better. Nothing ever seems too much, even if it’s something as simple as a few nice words or making my Mum and Dad feel better while they are being shown/trained how to do my infusions themselves.

After sitting chatting with my family I decided during this lockdown I would try and do a big cycle for Snowdrop Trust, because I am 8 I am hoping to cycle 8miles to the Snow drop office in Walberton on the 6^th February (wish me luck) I’m also going to be getting my Mum, Dad and brother to do it with me. P.s Mum doesn’t like cycling so this should be funny. Even though sometimes It’s all a little scary, it’s made a whole load easier by everyone involved in Snowdrop, 
the nurses doing their visits, the wonderful Di Levantine, and the girls in the office we can honestly say they have helped make life a lot
better for not only me but my whole family, in our house we call them our angels in disguise.

So this is a little bit about why me and my family would like to give a little something back, trying to put it all into words isn’t an easy task, but ask anyone who knows about The Snowdrop Trust and I’m sure they will sing their praises too.

 As I’m sure you can now tell we are very grateful for the support from The Snowdrop Trust and the community nurse team,
So could you please help me achieve my target of £200 by sponsoring me, no matter how big or small I can promise you every penny will count towards helping other children and families like us.