Helping Jamie’s Journey

On Saturday 26 April 2014, I will be participating in the Tour de Lauder, which is a 50-mile cycle through the Scottish borders. All entry fees paid by the riders help to raise funds for the Chest, Heart and Stroke on behalf of the Steve Cully Tribute Fund.

However, I would like to use this challenge as an tremendous opportunity for raising funds for a brave young lad who has endured a horrendous past year.

In January 2013, Jamie Bingham, a 13 year old Edinburgh boy was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He immediately under went a 7 and a half hour operation with surgeons successfully removing 98 percent of the tumour, which was growing from his brainstem into the fourth ventricle of his brain.

However days later Jamie subsequently contracted meningitis, which caused many problems including hydrocephalus (extra fluid around the brain). Jamie had to have a shunt inserted to help control this and will have the shunt in his head for the rest of his life. Jamie required a further shunt inserted as cystic collections were forming near to his brainstem due to the blockages caused by the meningitis. Overall this brave lad has endured and survived 14 brain operations within 12 months due to complications with his shunts and the meningitis.

Jamie is currently within the High dependancy Unit of the Children's Hospital as he is ventilator dependant via a tracheostomy due to the weakness of his lungs and diaphragm muscles after being bedridden for a prolonged period. Jamie is currently undertaking daily physio and occupational therapy sessions in his bed and is working extremely hard but will be wheelchair-dependant for some time. Jamie is only now becoming aware of the severity of his illness and as you can only imagine the psychological affect this is having on him.

So please could you help Jamie’s recovery by sponsoring me for the 50 mile cycle and raise funds needed to help Jamie’s rehabilitation. I have never done anything like this before but see this as the perfect opportunity to help Jamie and his family.

Many thanks

Alan