Roux with his recovery from a brain tumour

Hi everyone,

We're reaching out to you today with a heartfelt plea for our son, Roux. As many of you know, and have contributed or taken part in yourselves, we’ve spent countless hours raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity. These causes are incredibly close to our hearts, and we are immensely grateful for the support we've received. However, now it's time to turn our focus inward and ensure that Roux gets the therapy and equipment he needs to achieve the best possible quality of life.

Roux’s Story

At just four weeks old, Roux was diagnosed with a tumour the size of two oranges, which had taken over half of his brain. The medical staff at Leeds General Infirmary told us to say goodbye to our baby boy as he was whisked away for emergency brain surgery—a procedure doctors said he was highly unlikely to survive. It was a totally inconceivable situation for any parent.

Roux, being the fighter he is, came through that surgery and has undergone a total of 14 surgeries since. His non-cancerous tumour is incredibly rare, and even rarer for it to be diagnosed in a child. The extent of the damage caused by the tumour is still not fully known due to its rarity and Roux’s young age. Only time will tell what impact it has had and what support he will need long term.

Currently, Roux faces the following challenges:

Hydrocephalus

Cerebral Palsy

Poorly controlled Epilepsy

Impaired sight

Developmental delay

Unable to walk

Although Roux has had stable MRI scans for nearly four years now, life remains incredibly tough with yearly MRIs, the ongoing risk of shunt malfunctions, the frequency and unpredictability of his seizures and managing the daily effects and challenges of living with his disabilities.

Why We Need Your Help

To give Roux the best chance at a more independent and fulfilling life, we need to provide him with intensive physiotherapy, specialised equipment, and essential home adaptations. Unfortunately, the cost of these necessary interventions is substantial, and we cannot do it alone. This is where we humbly ask for your support.

How Your Donations Will Help

Intensive Physiotherapy: Roux requires physiotherapy at least once a week, at a cost of £90 per session, totalling £4,680 per year. Additionally, intensive physiotherapy weeks, costing £1,500 each, are crucial for Roux’s physical development. He had the opportunity to attend one of these intensive weeks this year and made fantastic progress, but this only happened because we won a competition for him to attend. These intensive weeks are essential for Roux's progress but are financially out of reach without your support.

Home Adaptations: Our home needs several modifications to accommodate Roux’s needs. This includes installing ramps, modifying bathrooms, and creating accessible living spaces that allow Roux to navigate his environment safely and independently. These adaptations are vital for Roux's safety and quality of life but come with a substantial financial burden.

Specialised Equipment: Roux requires a range of specialised equipment such as a wheelchair, standing frame, and adaptive seating to support his daily activities and therapies. Each piece of equipment is essential for Roux's comfort, safety, and development, but the costs can be prohibitive without your support.

Costs Breakdown

Here is how the money raised will be used:

Weekly Physiotherapy: £90 per session, totalling £4,680 per year

Two Intensive Physiotherapy Weeks: £1,500 each, totalling £3,000

Home Adaptations: Estimated costs vary

Specialised Equipment: Estimated costs vary

The total estimated cost is over £10,000 per year. Roux receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and we use this as much as possible towards these costs, but we still face a significant shortfall that we cannot meet on our own.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Your generous contributions will directly impact Roux's quality of life, helping him achieve milestones that are currently out of reach. Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to providing Roux with the resources he needs to thrive.

We deeply appreciate your support and kindness. Thank you for being part of Roux’s Army and helping us give him the best possible start in life.

With gratitude,

Amy and Antony (Roux's mum and dad)

Donate now to help Roux reach his potential and live a fuller life.

Thank you for your support!

You can read more about Roux’s journey here:

Blog: The Fight of Our Lives

Twitter: @toneo

Instagram: Roux’s Army