Running for Rudy

So, if you know me (Bryan), you'll know running isn't exactly new to me -many of you supported my European-based half marathon efforts during 2021/22 whilst fund raising for a few charities close to my heart. BUT............

I've finally mustered the courage and (hopefully) energy to run my first marathon inspired by the courage, determination and fight shown by my wee mate Rudy Cole this past year!

In short myself and Rudy's dad Matt, will be running Budapest Marathon on Sunday the 13th October - it will be my first and Matt's Hat-trick of Marathons.

What we will be raising funds is to split equally between Rudy's Trust Fund and "The Grand Appeal", the official Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, which are committed to saving the lives of sick children and supporting their families.

We've covered the costs to get to the start line, flights, hotels, and race fees etc. and none of the money raised will be spent on this.

More specifically about why we are raising funds for these….

For those who don't know Rudy, Rudy was born with multiple haemangiomas (very rare form of benign tumours filled with blood) on his face, body, and in his brain. Unfortunately, at just one week old the haemangiomas in Rudy’s brain bled and left him fighting for his life.

A determined little Rudy thankfully pulled through, but he has been left with considerable damage to his brain and subsequently has right-sided hemiparesis (weakness), very low muscular tone, impaired vision and global development delay.

He also suffered from drug resistant epilepsy, and has had countless number of seizures every day since 6 months old, which hinders his development.

Last November Rudy had MAJOR BRAIN SURGERY at Bristol Children’s Hospital, in an attempt to reduce the hundreds of seizures he had been getting every single day for virtually 11 years, which were getting progressively worse.

Neuro surgeons carried out a hemispherectomy corpus callosum - where they basically disconnected the left hemisphere of his brain from the right.

The 12 hour surgery went very well initially but unfortunately Rudy had complications in his recovery and was very poorly for some months in hospital, developing recurrent hydrocephalus (raised pressure and fluid on the brain) needing 6 more operations and eventually a shunt inserted.

Rudy however battled through all of this without complaint and has not had a single seizure since his first operation! This has already made a huge difference to Rudy’s quality of life and his family’s, as well as improving his long term prognosis.

Rudy’s family are so grateful that he was able to receive this life-saving and changing surgery from Bristol Children’s hospital and in the amazing care before and after it. They are also very appreciative for all the care and support they received as well at Bristol, and would love to give something back to the children’s hospital to support other children and families in similar situations. For example, one of the things that particularly helped Rudy to smile again was music therapy, this is something the Grand Appeal helps to fund (Cover Picture)

Rudy is still on the mend and needs weekly independent physiotherapy to help try and get him back to where he was physically and needs some electrical stimulation equipment to help reactivate his right arm and hand. Rudy’s Trust Fund has been vital in enabling his family to do this.

More about the The Grand Appeal can be found here, whose mission is to strive to put Bristol Children's Hospital at the centre of change - creating pioneering facilities and ensuring the hospital remains at the forefront of children’s healthcare, saving lives into the next decade and beyond. https://www.grandappeal.org.uk/

Thank you for your support!

Bryan, Matt and Rudy