A teenager who was told he may never walk again after falling ill with a rare brain infection has walked the length of a marathon in six days to raise money for a charity.
Ben Mattocks, 14, underwent a craniectomy (a procedure to remove part of the skull to relieve pressure on the brain) after contracting the infection in January. He had two operations and spent 10 weeks in Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Six weeks ago, he took his first steps after extensive physiotherapy. Talking to BBC News, Ben’s mother, Lucy Warnes, said, ‘Ben faced the possibility of spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair.’
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She explained that Ben was a very active child – he went to the gym five times a week and loved to play sports. ‘The change was so sudden. It was heartbreaking seeing him not able to move or respond to us,’ she said.
After the operation, Ben underwent what his mother called ‘a long and difficult journey’ to get back on his feet, supported by the speech, language and physiotherapy teams at the hospital even after the lockdown began.
Ben decided he wanted to walk a marathon to ‘give something back’ and has raised more than £1,600 for The Children’s Hospital Charity.
Abbie Pervin, regional fundraising manager at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said, ‘It is really moving to hear about Ben’s treatment and I’m really pleased to hear he has made such a strong recovery following the life-saving care he received at Sheffield Children’s.
‘To walk a marathon so soon after his treatment is an incredible achievement, we’re really thankful to Ben, his family and everyone who generously supported his challenge in these difficult times.'
The charity has seen fundraising decline by more than 60 per cent during lockdown as a result of cancelled or postponed events. Donations to The Children’s Hospital Charity can be made here.
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