101 Mile South Downs Way for Charlie

On 6th and 7th July we will be taking on the South Downs Way, 101 miles in 2 days! We will be raising money for Charlie (Becky's nephew), towards his ongoing care, physiotherapy, any equipment he needs and anything to help get him home.

Please read his story...

On 2nd December 2023, Gemma (Charlie's Mum) was taken into hospital with abdominal pains. The following day, she had an operation to remove a tumour from her bowel. She was to stay in hospital for two weeks' recovery.

Exactly a week after Gemma was admitted, Charlie became seriously unwell and was rushed to Southampton hospital with a suspected brain infection. Charlie had developed sinusitis following a cold, and the infection had travelled to his brain.

The following morning, Charlie was taken into surgery for what became an extremely difficult operation and a fight for his life. He was put into an induced coma to give him the best chance. His mum couldn't be at his side

Eventually, Charlie's sedation was reduced, and he started showing some good signs. Gemma was discharged from St Richards, and she, Charlie's Dad, Steve, and Sister, Mollie, made Ronald McDonald House their home.

Charlie was taken off of his ventilator and could breath by himself, a massive relief to everyone. He's had an operation to fit a permanent shunt in his brain to help control swelling, and another to fit a titanium plate to replace part of his skull.

Bleeds on Charlie's brain during the initial operation resulted in a stroke. He has regained the use of his left side and is seeing improvement in his right. His speech is getting better and he is working hard daily in physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hospital school. He has just this week started taking his first steps towards learning to walk again. He has a long recovery ahead of him.

During this time, Gemma has completed her Chemotherapy treatment. 6 months later, Charlie remains in hospital and the family still call Ronald McDonald House their home. Charlie is able to spend some much needed quality time there at the weekends, and has just started venturing out in the car for ice cream and walks (in his wheelchair) away from the hospital.

Hopefully Charlie will be ready to leave hospital soon, but as the family home is a maisonette above a shop, it is no longer accessible to him. The family are reliant on the local council to find them a suitable property.

They have hope that this will happen in the near future, and they know that Charlie will continue to make them, and everyone that knows him, extremely proud of his strength and determination