Duncan Walker London Marathon 2023
Duncan Walker
My Story
In June 1997, my nephew Ben Mellor was born in Brentwood, Essex to my sister Rachel and her husband Geoff. After just a few days home he was rushed back to hospital – initially to Basildon, but then to Great Ormond Street Hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. At GOSH he was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a defect which affects the normal blood flow through the heart. For more than a year Ben stayed in GOSH, undergoing numerous surgeries and treatments, under the fantastic care of the GOSH medical team.
Shortly after his first birthday, Ben went home while continuing to receive medical care. As time went on he got stronger and stronger and eventually started school – initially in St Ippolyts, Hertfordshire and then in Sheffield after Rachel & Geoff returned home to Yorkshire. While Ben enjoyed school, his real passion was football and cricket, following avidly his favourite teams Huddersfield Town FC and Yorkshire Cricket. With his dad and younger brother, Joseph, he travelled the length and breadth of the country supporting these teams. He also loved to visit Ireland, most recently in 2017 when he got to meet his twin cousins, James & Iseult.
In his late teens, Ben’s health started to decline in spite of the continuing care from GOSH, and latterly the cardiac team at Sheffield Hospital. In May 2018, just a month shy of his 21st birthday and again on his way to watch his beloved Yorkshire cricket, Ben’s heart finally gave up the fight and he passed away.
So in Ben’s memory, I am running the London Marathon in April to raise funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Please donate what you can to this great cause.
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Target
£2,000
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Raised so far
£3,038
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Number of donors
46
My Story
In June 1997, my nephew Ben Mellor was born in Brentwood, Essex to my sister Rachel and her husband Geoff. After just a few days home he was rushed back to hospital – initially to Basildon, but then to Great Ormond Street Hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. At GOSH he was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a defect which affects the normal blood flow through the heart. For more than a year Ben stayed in GOSH, undergoing numerous surgeries and treatments, under the fantastic care of the GOSH medical team.
Shortly after his first birthday, Ben went home while continuing to receive medical care. As time went on he got stronger and stronger and eventually started school – initially in St Ippolyts, Hertfordshire and then in Sheffield after Rachel & Geoff returned home to Yorkshire. While Ben enjoyed school, his real passion was football and cricket, following avidly his favourite teams Huddersfield Town FC and Yorkshire Cricket. With his dad and younger brother, Joseph, he travelled the length and breadth of the country supporting these teams. He also loved to visit Ireland, most recently in 2017 when he got to meet his twin cousins, James & Iseult.
In his late teens, Ben’s health started to decline in spite of the continuing care from GOSH, and latterly the cardiac team at Sheffield Hospital. In May 2018, just a month shy of his 21st birthday and again on his way to watch his beloved Yorkshire cricket, Ben’s heart finally gave up the fight and he passed away.
So in Ben’s memory, I am running the London Marathon in April to raise funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Please donate what you can to this great cause.
