From 30th July to 3rd August, the Rory’s Ramble team will embark on an extraordinary journey. Over the course of five days, they will walk an incredible 200km to visit all 51 Gromit Unleashed sites. This monumental task is not just a physical challenge; it is a heartfelt mission to raise vital funds and awareness for Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal, supporting the Bristol Children’s Hospital Grand Appeal Charity.

20 hospital admissions. 7 medication changes. 1 diagnosis that changed everything.

On 1st June 2024, our happy, thriving 7-month-old son Rory had his first seizure. We were rushed to hospital, told it was likely a febrile seizure, and sent home. The next day it happened again — only this time he stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated in the ambulance.

That was the start of a terrifying journey.

After a series of seizures, tests, and hospital stays, Rory was diagnosed with epilepsy — and later confirmed to have a rare SCN1A genetic mutation, likely Dravet Syndrome. This lifelong condition causes difficult-to-control seizures, developmental regression, and low muscle tone.

Since January 2025, Rory has experienced multiple life-threatening seizures, lost many of his skills, and is now unable to walk, tube-fed, and delayed in speech. But he’s still smiling. Still finding joy in music, cuddles, and laughter.

We’re fundraising for The Grand Appeal, the official charity for Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where Rory receives life-saving care. This charity has supported our family through the hardest year of our lives — from the moment we walked through the hospital doors, they’ve been there.

They provide emergency equipment, family support, accommodation, and fund pioneering research that gives children like Rory a fighting chance. Most importantly for us, they fund play and sensory activities to make the hospital feel less like a scary place. Rory is so young and doesn’t understand a lot of what is happening to them and thanks to the Grand Appeal he is provided with fun, laughter and activities to keep him occupied and entertained.

We’re walking for Rory. We’re walking for every child who has to call a hospital home. And we’d love your support. Every donation helps families like ours feel less alone.

Thank you for being part of Rory’s journey.