Bertie's Fundraiser for OIT

When Bertie was just six months old, he went into anaphylactic shock after consuming a small amount of peanut butter. He became so unwell that he had to be taken to hospital urgently. Once he was stabilised, we were told he had suffered stage 2 anaphylactic shock, and it was recommended that he undergo allergy testing. After the tests, it was confirmed that Bertie has a lifelong, severe, and potentially life-threatening allergies to both peanut and sesame. As a result, Bertie must follow a strict diet for the rest of his life and always carry two EpiPens. Unfortunately, many people do not fully understand the severity of his condition, which require us to double-check and carefully consider each situation before proceeding.

After a great deal of research, we have found Dr Helen and her team who are based in the UK. Dr Helen is a specialised allergy doctor who offers oral immunotherapy treatment. Unfortunately, this treatment is not routinely offered on the NHS and is not covered by private health care, and where it is available, it usually begins from the age of four. After putting Bertie forward for the programme, we have recently found out that we have been successful for the treatment, which involves gradually introducing small amounts of the allergen under medical supervision. This approach has shown promising results in increasing tolerance and reducing the threshold of an allergic reaction, allowing Bertie to live without the worry of accidental cross contamination and potentially an anaphylactic reaction.

We are currently fundraising to help cover the cost of Bertie's treatment and therefore need to raise £4,000. We will be raising awareness by taking on challenges and putting on events. These include, a walk of the Downs link, 5k run, The Great Bertie Bake off, Band Night and No Nuts, Just Guts - Teddy, Finnley & Harper Walk for Bertie. Any help or support you can provide would be truly appreciated and would make a significant difference to Bertie’s life. This treatment means he can live with less fear of anaphylactic shock.

For us, this represents a genuinely life-changing opportunity to help Bertie manage his allergies more effectively and improve his quality of life. We are committed to pursuing this treatment with the hope it will provide Bertie with greater safety and freedom.