On 28th September 2025, our lives changed forever. Jack, my (then) 9 year old son, was involved in an accident, receiving boiling water burns to his face, mouth, ear, torso, shoulder, arm and back. Suddenly we were thrust into a totally different world; the world of burns. Jack spent nearly 3 weeks in the specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. The pain he endured during daily wound cleaning, dressing changes and skin graft surgery was horrific. It was the darkest time of all our lives and I would never wish another child to ever experience this type of pain.

I’m so happy to say that nearly 12 months into his recovery journey, Jack is healing very well and “normal life” has largely resumed. Jack will be scarred for life though and we live with the reminder, marked on his body, of what he endured. Burns is not only a physical trauma but also a psychological one; it’s something Jack and our family still struggle with daily.

I decided I wanted something positive to come out of this devastating experience so made the decision to train for the Run Norwich 10k which is taking place on Sunday 6th September (nearly) a full 12 months exactly after Jack’s accident. Whilst training, whenever I’ve felt like giving up or stopping (I’m not a natural runner that’s for certain!) I think of Jack. I think of how bravely he battled through the pain and fear and it gives me the extra energy to carry on running.

I decided to raise money for the Children’s Burns Club because of the vital work providing support for children and families, like ours, whose lives have been affected by burns. Thank you so much for contributing any amount you can.

Please remember: COOL burns with cool running water for 20 minutes, CALL 999 and COVER burns with cling film.