Hi my name is Emma and id like to share my story with you and the reasons why im fundraising, why its so important and how any funds raised will be used.

In the weeks and months before my son James' 8th birthday, he was a happy, healthy, lively young boy doing everything a boy his age should be doing. However, soon after his birthday in June 2020, things started to drastically change.

Both myself and my mum noticed he wasnt himself so we took him to numerous doc appointments who all said it was 'viral' and was nothing to worry about and would get better on his own.

A week or so after that, he wasn't getting any better as he was constantly been sick, having diarrhoea, loosing balance, sleeping all the time, not eating or drinking, not making any sense/confused the list goes on so after more phone calls/visits to nhs 111, doctors, hospitals etc they started testing him but yet again came the excuses saying 'hes constipated' 'hes making himself sick' 'its a bug' all of which both me and my mum knew were just poor excuses as during this time he had contracted sepsis to the point where his body was on the verge of shutting down so we both knew something wasn't right with James.

Then came September and I remember this like it was yesterday. It was round about the 7th and James still not getting any better even after all the medications he was given, an emergency MRI scan was pushed for him by his paediatrician. Both myself and my mum was by James's side in hospital when we got taken to a room and got told the devastating news that James did have a medulloblastoma brain tumour and that he needed to be blue lighted to LGI children's hospital right away as he needed to have emergency brain surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible.

Weeks and months following the 8 hour brain surgery James had to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy to remove what was left of the cancer.

Now 13 years old, hes had and still having to endure the awful side effects from all the surgery/drugs etc. Some of which are Addisons Disease, Epilepsy, posterior fossa syndrome and is now a full time wheelchair user. He is also on 10 different medications for life including a growth hormone injection nightly and a testosterone injection monthly.

So on behalf of not only my son but for everyone else who has or is still battling some form of cancer, I am planning a Brave the Shave fundraising event. This is a cause thats very close and important to me as I know first hand how devastating it is to loose a part of you that may seem very small to some but for others can have a huge impact on not only they're physical health but also mentally, emotionally and psychologically.

Sadly for my son and many others, they dont have the choice to keep their hair due to all the chemotherapy and radiotherapy making it fall out, however for me I do have a choice and this is what im choosing to raise much more needed awareness and to show how strong and inspirational these people are!

But I cant do this alone so im asking for all the help and support I can possibly get to do this then hopefully, we can all pull together and help Jimmy make his dream come true by taking him on a once in a lifetime trip to Disney in florida ☺️

Thanks for reading