Blog Post
Harri's Story
Holibobs • Jan 09, 2019
Harri was just 4 years old when he was diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma in November 2014. It was whilst getting him changed into his pyjamas, watching Children In Need that we felt a small lump on Harri’s forearm. At the time we never imagined that it would be anything serious and left the first appointment in disbelief and complete shock. Within days Harri was having the full range of scans and following a biopsy a couple of weeks later our worst possible fears were confirmed. Within no time at all we found ourselves thrust into a very frightening world of treatment plans, cycles of medicine and having to find ways of living with awful side effects and protecting Harri as much as possible from the increased risk of infection.
Nothing at all could have prepared us! Over the last four years Harri has endured various forms of treatment and hospital procedures that have been so terribly hard on him and totally heart breaking for us. He has missed out on so much that is everyday and normal but his courage, resilience and cheeky personality shines through always. He has the most amazing imagination and can quite literally make a game out of anything. He is strong willed and determined and has many, many loves from his big sister and best friends to trains, football, David Attenborough and Harry Potter. He is quite simply our superhero!
When Harri was asked what holidays meant to him he said that they made him feel free and we can’t think of a better description. Freedom from hospital, freedom from medicine and the sickness it brings, freedom from horrible procedures allowing him the time to be the child he should be and being given the opportunity to spend time away having fun and being normal means the world to him.
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We are delighted to share that Holibobs has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Charities category of the Cardiff Life awards for a second year running! Last year was the first time we’d entered these awards and having made the shortlist as a finalist we were extremely proud to then receive a ‘Highly Commended’ from the panel of independent judges, based on our efforts during 2020. It is fantastic to have been selected as a finalist again this year, alongside 4 other wonderful charities, all of whom are very worthy finalists. We all now have our fingers crossed that we can go one better than last year and be crowned winners in the charities category at the awards, which take place at Cardiff City Hall on 31st March 2022.
Holibobs has been nominated for support by Virtual Runner UK, and participants taking part get to choose to run either 5k, 10k or a half marathon. Race entry is £13 and Virtual Runner will donate 20% of this fee to Holibobs helping us to raise more funds for our cause. To read more and enter go to the Virtual Runner website: https://www.virtualrunneruk.com/product/runners-roulette-5k-10k-half-2021/ Participants can set up a JustGiv ing page linked to our campaign by selecting ‘start fundraising’ from this link: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/holibobsrunnersroulette All those that enter will receive a Holibobs T-shirt and a Virtual Runners Roulette Medal.
Calling all Lego Masters to join our building challenge, with a theme of ‘My Holiday’ or ‘Go Wild With Bricks!’ First Prize: £50 Asda Voucher Second Prize: Small Lego set. Age Groups for entry: 0-7 years & 8-16 years To enter donate £3 to Holibobs and send an image of your build to ruth@holibobscharity.org.uk with your name and age. Or click the button below. Entries are now closed. The winners were announced on the 7 th March.
Are you looking for a challenge for 2021? The Holibobs challenge for this year is to walk / run / cycle / swim (or a combination of the above) 2021 miles or kms in 2021. It’s an event you can do alone or as part of a team, customising to suit you whilst helping to raise vital funds for Holibobs to organise more wonderful holidays for children diagnosed with cancer and their families. If you are interested please follow our event on Facebook and email us at info@holibobscharity.org.uk
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Holibobs Registered Charity no.1179844.