Encephalitis is a cause of brain injury in children (and adults) and children can become very unwell, needing hospital admission for treatment. It can take the medical team some time to find the right treatment to fight the specific cause (e.g., infection or auto-immune response). In the meantime, families have to wait to find out if their child will survive. Once the right treatment is found, their child will start their journey to recovery; however, many children are discharged from hospital living with a significant acquired brain injury as a result of the encephalitis.

Children return to school and ‘normal life’ often without the support they need - because, let’s be honest, the NHS is brilliant but it cannot do it all. This can lead to children and their families feeling isolated and parents needing to advocate (and fight!) for their child to get support.

The Eden Dora Trust is one of the few places where families feel supported. Whether it’s someone to call when things feel overwhelming, or needing information and resources from the website to help others understand their child’s needs, the Eden Dora Trust is always there. 

We are completing this challenge in the hope to make a difference to the families and children who often feel like they are on their own, and who feel exhausted by constantly needing to educate systems that are not set up to meet their needs. Let’s show them that we care, that we want to help, and let’s raise awareness of childhood encephalitis so that families and children do not have to work so hard to get their needs met. 

Anna is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor at the University of Exeter whose research focuses on understanding the consequences of childhood brain injury, and developing and evaluating interventions to support children who have had a brain injury, and their families. Anna is also a member of the Eden Dora Trust advisory panel. Anna will be running, cycling, and walking sections of the Southwest coastal path with her dad (Richard) in the month of May to reach her target of 50 miles.

Richard (Anna’s dad) is a retired University senior lecturer and, like Anna, is passionate about supporting children who have experienced an acquired brain injury and their families. Richard will be walking the costal paths in Wales and Devon to reach his target of 50 miles.