Seventeen years ago, at just 12 years old, my world turned upside down when I was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma. Within weeks, I was undergoing life-altering, 12 hour surgery, followed by six months of intensive chemotherapy and countless further operations.

As a child, I was resilient, but the truth is, that period of my life was hell on earth. A time of relentless pain, fear, and heartbreaking uncertainty. I often think not just of what I endured, but of the anguish my parents must have felt watching their child suffer, clinging only to hope.

Yet in the middle of that storm, there was one place where we all felt safe: Ward 15 at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

I still remember the visible relief on my parents’ faces each time we arrived. It wasn’t just a hospital, it was a sanctuary of excellence, compassion, and care. Whether it was a scheduled appointment or a panicked emergency dash due to infection, BCH was where we knew I stood my best chance.

Now, 17 years on, I am one of the lucky ones. I still bear the scars, physically and mentally, but I survived. I got to grow up and live my life. And I know that the care I received at Birmingham Children’s Hospital played a pivotal role in saving my life.

This is why, on October 25th, I will be cycling 120 miles in a single day, from UHNM in Stoke to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and back again, to raise funds for the hospital that gave me hope when everything felt hopeless.

This ride isn’t just about the miles. It’s about saying thank you. It’s about giving back to the place that gave me a future. And it’s about making sure other children, and their parents, feel that same sense of safety, strength, and expert care in their darkest moments.

To date, I’ve been involved in raising over £20,000 for BCH. But the need continues, and the work they do never stops. Every penny raised helps provide life-changing care, medical innovation, and moments of light for children facing the unimaginable.

If my story inspires just one family to keep believing… or helps one child receive the care they urgently need… then every mile, every ache, every uphill struggle will have been worth it.

Please donate whatever you can. Together, we can give more children the chance to write the rest of their story.