Charlie's Story: A Full-Family Fundraising Journey
Inspired by the arrival of Baby Harrison, who was born in 2026 with spina bifida, his dad Charlie and his whole family have been on an epic fundraising journey for Shine! They've already raised over £2,470, and they're not planning on stopping any time soon...
"Shine is incredibly close to our family’s heart. Our son, Harrison, was diagnosed with spina bifida at his anomaly scan. Following numerous hospital appointments and assessments, we were approved to undergo in-utero fetal surgery at 25 weeks’ gestation at UCLH in London to close Harrison’s lesion. Harrison then decided to make an early arrival and was delivered via emergency C-section, 10 weeks premature.
Throughout every stage of our journey - from diagnosis to where we are today - Shine has been there for our family. They have provided invaluable information about the condition, offered support following Harrison’s birth, and regularly checked in on us during our lengthy hospital stay. We are incredibly grateful for the guidance, reassurance, and support Shine has given us during one of the most challenging times of our lives.
"Throughout every stage of our journey - from diagnosis to where we are today - Shine has been there for our family."
Because Shine is a charity that means so much to our family, fundraising for them has been incredibly important to me. I’ve far exceeded my original expectations of how much I thought I would be able to raise. In fact, I’ve already surpassed my fundraising target three times and have continued to increase it as support keeps coming in. There is a real sense of pride in watching the total on my donation page grow, knowing that every contribution is helping such a valuable charity continue its incredible work supporting families like ours. Seeing the generosity of others and knowing it will make a difference to so many people affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus has been truly inspiring.
The fundraising team at Shine have been incredible throughout my journey. They regularly check in to see how I’m doing, ask if there’s anything I need, and take a genuine interest in how my training is progressing. Their encouragement and support have been invaluable, and those regular check-ins have really helped to keep me motivated and accountable. Knowing they are behind me every step of the way has made the challenge feel even more rewarding and has strengthened my determination to raise as much as possible for such an amazing charity.
My simplest advice to anyone thinking about fundraising for Shine is: do it! Not only is it fantastic for your own mental and physical wellbeing, but knowing that the money you raise will help Shine continue supporting individuals and families affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus brings an incredible sense of pride and achievement. Every donation, no matter the size, can make a real difference, and being part of that positive impact is an immensely rewarding experience. It’s a challenge that gives back far more than you could ever expect.
"I firmly believe in giving back, not just receiving support. Shine has been there for our family from the moment of Harrison’s diagnosis, and I know they will continue to support us in the years ahead."
We are only at the very beginning of our journey with Harrison and spina bifida, but I firmly believe in giving back, not just receiving support. Shine has been there for our family from the moment of Harrison’s diagnosis, and I know they will continue to support us in the years ahead. Because of that, I am committed to supporting Shine in return. The guidance, reassurance, and sense of community they provide are invaluable, and I will continue to do whatever I can to help them carry on their incredible work for other families facing similar challenges.
Harrison’s big sister, Sophia, is also incredibly proud to support Shine and help raise awareness of the vital work they do. She never misses an opportunity to wear her Shine T-shirt, especially when taking part in parkrun events. Sophia loves being involved and is always keen to show her support for a charity that means so much to our family. Seeing her champion Shine with such enthusiasm makes us immensely proud and highlights just how much the charity has become part of our family’s journey."
Huge thanks to Charlie and all his family! We can't wait to see more of their journey in the months ahead.
Are you inspired to fundraise for Shine?
Charlie and 5 of his family and friends are taking part in Cardiff Half Marathon in October, if you'd like to support their fundraising, you can donate here!