Terminally ill boy's family walk to deliver presents
- Published
The family of a boy living with an inoperable brain tumour have walked 10 miles to deliver donated presents to children in hospital at Christmas.
Elias, four, from Radstock, Somerset, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour eight months ago and given a nine to 12 month life expectancy.
His mother and father, Abbie and Jake, teamed up with Somerset charity Time is Precious, to collect presents.
These will be handed out to children on the wards at Bath's Royal United Hospital tomorrow.
Around 40 people joined the walk, which left from the Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley, Wiltshire, and headed to Bath.
Many of those attending were in fancy dress.
Time is Precious was founded in memory of Nicky and Neil Halford's son Ben, who passed away aged five, from a brain tumour.
The charity set up a donation point at the Hive community cafe in Peasedown St John near Bath.
People took tags from the Christmas tree, bought the suggested gifts and returned them to the cafe where they were wrapped up.
Elias was too unwell to join the walk, but his mum Abbie said she was "really happy" with the turnout.
"Elias loves giving gifts out, and the response has been amazing.
"We've got around 50 presents so that's a lot of children who will be cheered up in hospital," she said.
His father Jake told the BBC they wanted to give back "because Elias has been given so much."
"One of our main goals was to give back to other families and see other children with smiles on their faces.
"Everyone has come together for a sad reason, but there's lots of good people who want to help and we didn't expect this many presents," he added.
Get in touch
Tell us which stories we should cover in Wiltshire
Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Related topics
- Published4 days ago
- Published12 December
- Published26 May