14-07-20

Team Rueben’s Coast to Coast Challenge!

Rueben’s amazing family are preparing to take on an absolutely incredible challenge. From 4^th August, Rueben’s dad Stephen, step-mum Liz and their two sons Otis (aged 9) and Sidney (aged 8), will be walking 196 miles from St Bee’s and finishing at Robin Hoods Bay, which was Rueben’s favourite place. Here is their story:

“It was just over a year ago when our journey began. On 30^th May 2019, our beautiful 10-year-old son Rueben Walder was diagnosed with a very high graded, rare brain tumour. He endured two brain surgeries, 30 sessions of radiotherapy and three rounds of the most aggressive chemotherapy. Every challenge was faced with such strength, determination and true willpower. He was a warrior, a true soldier, and over time he built his own inspiration – the best army that anyone could ask for. This fantastic army have supported us through our journey and still are to this day.

Exactly a year to the date he was diagnosed, just five weeks ago, our inspirational boy very sadly lost his fight to cancer. Our loss has left a hole so big and an absence beyond any words we can find, but Rueben had a motto in life and that was ‘You just have to live, live, live’.

So to carry on his legacy, his dad Stephen decided to set out a challenge for us to walk the Coast to Coast. In total we will be walking 196 miles over 18 legs and will be starting at St Bee’s on 4th August and arriving at Robin Hoods Bay, Rueben’s favourite place, on Friday 21st August! Along the way, many friends and family will be joining us to help keep our spirits up and to support us on this worthy cause.

So far we have raised £10,693.40 for Candlelighters, the charity that supports Leeds General Infirmary and once again we are supporting such an amazing charity with our challenge. You have no idea how much support they offer families like ourselves, not just off the wards but by the bedside too. We have amazing friends that still need Candlelighters’ support and without them, we’re just not sure how any family would survive. They offer a wide range of support from financial grants to sibling groups, talking therapies, family days’ out and holidays, to a beautiful cottage to stay in when children are on treatment; the list of their support services goes on and on.

Both Stephen and I want to carry on Rueben’s inspiration in helping others and by taking on this challenge so soon after Rueben passed away, we really want to help support others through their journey.

Otis and Sidney want to show you all how strong they both are and would love everyone’s support. We have no doubt that in honour of their brother they will never give up, but just the fact they want to face this challenge is inspirational in its own right.  No matter how big or small, every donation will help to support and motivate them to keep putting one foot in front of the other, especially as they are also very young to be taking on the Coast to Coast Walk.

Rueben had the ability to mould people into a better version of themselves and we have no doubt that once again that is what this walk will do. The pain and loss will never go away but with you all by our sides, we manage to get through another day. Please follow our journey and help support these two amazing young boys who are true warriors in their own right. Thank you so very much for your continued support.”

We wish Team Rueben all the best on this amazing journey and can’t wait to catch up with them again soon to see how things are going.