Story

Thank you for taking the time to read our JustGiving page.

Our names are Finn, Cullen, and Anton Lavery and on Saturday 8th November, we will be running the Victoria Park Half Marathon in support of Encephalitis International.

This is a charity that we hold very close to our hearts. In January 2021, Finn became ill with encephalitis. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It is caused either by an infection invading the brain (infectious encephalitis) or through the immune system attacking the brain in error (post-infectious or autoimmune encephalitis). Anyone at any age can get encephalitis. There are up to 6,000 cases in the UK each year and potentially hundreds of thousands worldwide. In the USA there were approximately 250,000 patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of encephalitis in the last decade.

Finn faced further complications, such as a brain bleed and an acute kidney injury. There were moments when we were unsure of how Finn would recover, but despite this he did. His exceptional strength and determination led to a remarkable recovery, but the experience will stay with him and our family forever. This all occurred during the Covid pandemic, meaning that for most of Finn's 23 days in the hospital, we were unable to visit him, and he had to endure much of the ordeal alone.

The key to a positive outcome with encephalitis is early diagnosis and treatment. However, this can be challenging since initial symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, or a fever, are often mild and can be mistaken for a common cold or flu. By the time more severe symptoms appear, like confusion, loss of consciousness, or seizures, the patient is already in a critical condition. To add to this, 78% of people have little or no understanding of what encephalitis is, despite it affecting approximately 500,000 people globally each year.

We are aiming for a target of £1,500 because this amount could fund a bursary place for the annual Encephalitis Conference. This would enable a medical professional to attend the Conference and gain insight into the latest developments relating to encephalitis, diagnosis, treatment, research and after-care for patients, supporting them and their colleagues to learn more about the condition.

Your donation will make a tremendous impact, helping us support the Encephalitis Society in providing support and opportunities to connect with individuals and families whose lives have been affected by encephalitis.

Thank you for your time and your generosity,

Finn, Cullen & Anton