Our baby boy, Jude, was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at just six months old. He underwent brain surgery to have a shunt fitted to relieve the build‑up of fluid on his brain, followed by a second brain surgery at one year old to remove a large arachnoid cyst. Today, Jude is thriving, a testament to his incredible strength and resilience (with lots of encouragement from his brother's Jaden & Jonah).

This past year has been the hardest our family has ever faced. Coming to terms with Jude’s condition and watching him endure brain surgery at such a young age has been frightening and heart breaking beyond words.

Harry’s Hat is an incredible charity that supports families like ours navigating life with childhood hydrocephalus. Their advice, shared experiences, emotional support, and regular meet‑ups with other families who truly understand what we’ve been through have made an immeasurable difference to us. Without them, coping and processing everything we’ve faced would have been so much harder.

I’m running the Great North Run for Jude and the strength he has shown, and as a heartfelt thank you to Harry’s Hat for being there for our family when we needed it most.

If you’re able, please help me give back by supporting this amazing charity!

----------------------------------

Harry's Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust (Harry’s HAT) was set up in 2018 by parents, for families. We’re a user-led charity working to make life better for children with hydrocephalus and those who care for them.

Hydrocephalus affects 1 in 770 babies in the UK. There’s no cure and it’s the most common reason for brain surgery in children. We raise awareness, promote training and run our Get-A-Head campaign to improve early diagnosis and support.