Thanks for visiting our team page.
In March 2017 we heard the devastating news that Ben, aged 12, had been diagnosed with having a rare cancer. He has a malignant tumour on his leg which requires treatment through a combination of chemotherapy at Noah's Ark Hospital Cardiff and surgery in Birmingham, over the next 6 months. The prognosis is excellent and everything is pointing towards a full recovery.
He has now started the treatment and to say it has been difficult would be an understatement. Ben has been extremely unwell but he has a true fighting spirit.
Latch is a charity based in Wales which supports children and their families following a diagnosis of cancer or leukaemia. They recognise the financial and emotional burden which families experience and the physical and mental toll the treatment takes on the child themselves. Latch supports the Paediatric Oncology Unit at University Hospital of Wales Cardiff, and their catchment area covers a huge area from Chepstow to Aberystwyth.
The cost of running the unit and supporting families is massive. For example, people like Claire and Andrew (Ben's parents) have to travel thousands of miles through the course of the treatment and therfore Latch provides accommodation during treatment, a facility which costs £20,000 a year to run. They also help purchase medical equipment like infusion pumps...these cost £5000 each.
Latch spends thousands of pounds on making sure children are given activities to help them through their tough treatment, including games, books, toys, televisions, computer games...the list goes on. They even make a financial contribution to a holiday. And the support doesn't stop when the treatment stops; Latch also provides lifelong support to survivors of childhood cancer.
The Noah's Ark hospital staff themselves have been extremely supportive and Claire and Andrew can't speak highly enough of their professionalism. Our fundraising is also for the hospital unit itself.
Over the next 12 months a number of Ben's family and friends are undertaking a number of running and cycling events to raise awareness and much needed funds for this amazing charity. It kicks off Matt Davey running the Llanelli 10k on 17th June, and Mark Kavanagh, Wim Hollebrandse and Wayne Evans running the Swansea Half Marathon on 25th June. Lindsey Morgan is bravely doing a skydive in July and Wayne is pedalling away at the Velethon. Mark, Wayne and Wym are then doing the Forest Of Dean Half Marathon in Sept, joined by Jenny Kavanagh, Theresa Hollebrandse and Charlotte Evans. Into October, Angela Hooper is doing the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London and Yvonne Cole and Sarah Hart are taking on the Cardiff Half. There will be cake mornings, band nights, walks...you name it, we are doing it. We will update this page with the events we will be doing.
None of us dreamt that Ben would find himself in this situation, but thanks to Latch, he and his family are getting the support they need, when they really need it the most.
We've joined together to raise money for charity. You'll see our team fundraising target on the right. Your donation can really help us smash this goal
Remember: Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never share them with anyone or send you unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. They'll make sure Gift Aid (an additional 25%) is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer, too. That means more money goes to the charity, faster, with JustGiving.
