A family close to all our hearts has recently discovered their 3 year old boy has a condition called Neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that affects around 100 children a year in the UK. This heartbreaking news has turned their world upside down and without charities like LATCH, it would feel a lot harder.
In aid to give back and support LATCH Welsh Children's Cancer Charity, our team are taking on a combination of 3 consecutive extreme challenges in less than 24 hours.
Three year old James Lewis.
It began in June with James experiencing pain in his stomach and legs, leaving him unable to walk and resulting in a diagnosis of Covid from the hospital where he was sent home to recover. 4 weeks later the family found themselves back in hospital from the searing pain still being very present. After multiple tests and an MRI scan, the results showed masses all over James' body.
He was transferred to a hospital in Cardiff and father Ash Lewis, and mother Louise Noone were told the devastating news that James was suffering with Neuroblastoma.
Some words from our own, Ash Lewis: "At first we felt angry at the situation and I feel it has been harder for my wife as he has been attached to her all through this - he will not leave her side. But we're trying to keep it positive for the kids and I think it's easier to be more positive now because of the way he's reacting to it. You get days when you're down and days then you're up but you can't dwell on it - because there is nothing you can do, you just have to get through it."
Ash says James is "doing brilliantly" with his chemotherapy and "you know he's feeling ok because he's still running around being a dinosaur. He's starting to lose his hair now and has the odd tantrum with it, which is understandable as he's going through a lot, but he's so far responding well to the chemotherapy."
After the chemotherapy and some more MRI scans to check on how the masses have responded, James will undergo an operation to remove the tumour in his stomach. The treatment could take anywhere between 12 to 18 months, with a high chance of relapse in the first two years following the treatment.
- Team James training up Pen-Y-Fan.
The Challenge.
In aid to support LATCH and give something back to them, Dan Lewis (brother of Ash and another of our own team), decided to set up a series of extreme challenges to complete to raise money for the charity.
There are 3 parts to the challanges.
1. On October 1st at 1pm, the challenge will kick off with the Welsh 3 Peaks.
This will involve climbing Mount Snowdon (1,085m elevation) followed by Cadair Idris (893m elevation), before finishing it off at Pen-Y-Fan (886m elevation).
2. After a break for some well needed grub and rehydration, they will set off on their 50 mile cycle ride from Pen-Y-Fan to Cardiff.
3. The final leg of the challanges, the Cardiff half marathon. The team will have to run the 13.1 miles to the finish line, where the challenge will end and hopefully where a significant amount of awareness and money will have been raised for the non profit charity.
This time has been unimaginably difficult for the whole family, and we couldn't just stand back and let them go it alone. So, where Dan is completing all the extreme challenges, more members of our Escape Watersports team are joining different legs of the challenge, with a lot of the team standing by Dan and Ash's side at Pen-Y-Fan and through the half marathon.
To find out how you can also take part, take a look at the Team James Facebook page.
- Our own Matt Feirn training for the challenge!
About LATCH
LATCH is most well known for its on-site Family Accomodation at the University Hopsital of Wales, Cardiff. They also provide support with vital Social Work Services, Financial Support, and Emotional Support for the members of the family; even things as simple as prividing the children with games and toys while at hospital, the list continues.
Without the support from LATCH, these difficult times would be made even harder, which is why the family have decided to take on this challenge and raise the money for the charity so that they can continue their incredible work and provide more families with the vital support through these hard times.
A note from Ash about LATCH:
“LATCH has been amazing with helping us with petrol money from going back and forth to the hospital, setting up accommodation in Noah’s Ark Hospital - allowing us and our daughter to stay overnight. They’ve done so much for us, given us food, helped us with benefits and the emotional support has been amazing as well. For a charity that doesn't get government support - as it’s all funded by public donations - they’re fantastic.”
- James with his mum, dad and big sister.
We are incredibly proud of all their strength and if anyone would like to sponsor this journey then you can do so by their Just Giving page and follow the journey through the Facebook page. If you can't donate for whatever reason, then a share would be equally as appreciated.
To find out more information on Neuroblastoma, please visit the NHS website.