I'm taking part in Walk Together 2025 to help children with cerebral palsy, chromosome abnormalities and rare genetic disorders take their first steps towards independence.

Every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential- but for the children supported by Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, that journey is filled with extra challenges.

By walking, I’m helping raise funds for life-changing early intervention, therapy and family support so that these incredible children can work towards a life changing milestone that was once thought impossible.

Everyone at Dame Vera Lynn work tirelessly to help each and every little hero take their first step. They have provided amazing support to our son Joshua (pictured), helping him toward taking his first step in spite of his quad cerebral palsy, global development delay, infantile spasms (severe epilepsy) and cortical visual impairment (registered blind).

For each story you read, there are many many more out there un-spoken. Charities like Dame Vera Lynn work to support as many children as possible.

Joshua was born by emergency c-section just two hours away from dying. Thanks to a mother’s (Louise’s) instinct and quick work by the doctors, we were blessed with Joshua. After almost 3 weeks in intensive care we bought him home however his first three years have been spent in and out of hospital’s working with over 30 specialists to ensure Joshua gets the best possible start in life.

However, Joshua is a spirited boy who fights every day making us realise that we have to focus on the here and now, one day at a time. Hopes and dreams for the future haven’t left us, we just make the best of what we have, providing the best foundation and setting for Joshua to thrive. We ensure Joshua gets through every day as happy and as contented as possible and that every day he knows he is loved. This will never change.

The life Joshua lives daily is his normal and it is up to us as parents and those supporting him to ensure that his normal is the happiest and most rewarding it can be, so he is confident in himself to take on what ever life throws at him.

Joshua is battle hardened from a complex start to life and takes everything in his developing stride. As Joshua has got older, gained strength and gained a wickedly awesome personality our hopes and dreams for the future have very much returned!

Please join me by signing up at www.dvlcc.org.uk or kindly leave a donation – every penny is truly transformational.

Together, we can give these amazing children the best possible start in life, one step at a time.

Thank you for your support.