2024 Headline charity Noah's Ark - Jack's Story

Jack spent last Christmas in hospital. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022 and at just nine years old he and his parents were told Jack’s best option was to have surgery. After the surgery Jack was recovering well and was discharged from the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital. But his time at home was short-lived as Jack’s wound wasn’t healing as it should have been.

Just before Christmas, Jack was re-admitted to Owl Ward at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital and diagnosed with meningitis. Over Christmas, Jack underwent a wound revision and had a shunt placed to drain the excess fluid from his brain.

Now, a year on, Jack is a thriving, football-loving, ten-year-old. It’s a sport he first took an interest in after playing FIFA in the playroom on Owl Ward.

Jack’s dad is keen to give something back to the hospital that helped his son. Remembering back to this time last year, he says: “It was late at night and I was watching Jack recover from his second neurosurgery. I started thinking about what I could do to help. I wanted to give back, I just felt so helpless.”  As a keen cyclist, Gareth decided that the Carten100 was the event for him and after some training, he was ready to take on the 107-mile cycle from Cardiff to Tenby!

Gareth says “The ride was easier than I anticipated apart from the heat. The event itself was so well organised. The stewarding and marshalling was excellent. I have taken part in a few organised rides and CARTEN had a brilliant atmosphere.”

The Noah’s Ark Charity feels very proud to have been chosen as CARTEN100s lead charity again in 2024! To register your interest in claiming one of our free space spaces visit https://noahsarkcharity.org/carten100-2024-register-your-interest/