Please read the words below from of a close friend of mine. 

In November 2020, my daughter, Penny, was diagnosed with a large brain tumour. After being rushed to Bristol Children's Hospital, she underwent emergency surgery to relieve the dangerous build up of pressure in her skull, and a week later was back in theatre for a mammoth 18 hour operation to remove the tumour. She remained in hospital for 2 more months to recover, and is now undergoing intensive rehabilitation for hemiplegia (right-sided weakness) due to the damage done to her brain by the tumour and the surgery to remove it. Initially, the oncology team feared the worst for the diagnosis, believing it to be an aggressive form of cancer. However, further analysis appears to confirm that it is in fact a very rare, but benign, growth. The rarity of the tumour makes a prognosis difficult, and in addition to the rehab, Penny will be monitored closely over the coming years to check that the tumour doesn't regrow. We remain ever hopeful for the future, and eternally grateful to the wonderful NHS staff who cared for Penny, especially the amazing surgical team who saved her life.

So, why the Ronald McDonald House? Well, at the most difficult time of our lives, they provided my wife and I with sanctuary in the form of free accommodation close to the hospital. At a time when you can't even begin to contemplate the enormity of the situation, the last thing any parent needs to face is finding a place to rest, and with the potentially catastrophic financial consequences of having to fund this. The Ronald McDonald House in Bristol has simple, clean accommodation, with en suite shower facilities and a communal kitchen, for parents with seriously ill children in hospital. I honestly don't know how we would have coped without it, especially since, due to Covid restrictions, my wife and I weren't even allowed in the hospital together.

So I decided I would like to do something to say thank you. I asked my friends if they would like to join me to do something a bit crazy, and Andy, Bade and Dave immediately said yes. The Wooden Headed Maggots (don't ask) were born! We are going to attempt to "jog" 100km (that's each, not combined!) at the Yorkshire Ultra Challenge on 17/18 Jul 21. None of us have ever attempted anything like this before, so please give your support for a truly worthy cause and help us get through it.

Thank you.