Help4Henry Charity ball to raise life-changing funds

Attend a three course dinner, dance and auction on Friday 3 July 2015, to raise vital funds for Help4Henry and Vranch House, for specialist stem cell research and therapy for Henry Marsh.

On Saturday 5 October 2013, Henry Marsh, then three years old, contracted Ecoli and a disease called HUS (Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome), which attacks the kidneys, stomach and brain. Henry was admitted to Bristol Children’s Hospital and was in a coma for six weeks. After six months in hospital and eight months of rehabilitation at Tadworth Children’s Trust, Henry was able to return home in December 2014.

Henry now needs specialist care and equipment on a daily basis, and huge modifications are needed in everyday life for Henry and his family. In order to raise lifesaving funds, Henry’s family is organising a charity ball on Friday 3 July 2015 at Sandy Park, Exeter, with a three-course meal, a high value auction and table raffle. Tables of ten can be purchased for £600.

Since October 2013, Philip and his family and friends have raised more than £44,000 for the Wallace & Gromit Appeal (Bristol Children’s Hospital), Ronald McDonald Charity (Accommodation, Bristol) and the Children’s Trust, Tadworth (Rehabilitation Centre). They have completed gruelling challenges including, the Tough Mudder, the Grizzly Dash and 12k Rock Solid Race. Philip also set a new world record – completing a parachute jump with 292 people within 24 hours.

Philip Marsh, Henry’s father, says, “The last few years have been the hardest of my family’s lives, but having Henry at home gives us hope. Henry experiences between 50-100 spasms and around 20 epileptic fits a day. We work very closely with the charities that support our family and want to ensure we can enhance Henry’s future progression. We hope this charity ball will raise awareness, and most importantly, raise lifesaving funds.”

Money from the ball will be split between Help4Henry and Vranch House, to help fund specialist stem cell research and therapy for Henry as he gets better. To donate to Henry’s Just Giving page, please visit: www.justgiving.com/Help4Henry.

Prizes have been kindly donated by family and friends, and include a week in Spain, a TWC watch signed by David Coulthard, a Mercedes driving experience, a day’s shooting and many more.

Keep up to date on Henry's progress and details about fundraising events, please visit: www.help4henry.org and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/help4henry.

For more information about Tree of Hope, please visit: www.treeofhope.org.uk. For more information about Vranch House, please visit: www.vranchhouse.org.