Think Insurance To Take On The Wolf Run To Raise Money For Tommy

Think Insurance are helping Tommy, a local boy who lost his limbs after contracting the B strain of Meningococcal Meningitis and Septicaemia, by supporting ‘Run for Tommy’, an event to raise money to put towards his ongoing need for prosthetic legs and aftercare.

Last year, five members of our team took part in a similar fundraising challenge, ‘Swim for Tommy’. Over 60 people in total took part in a 21 mile relay at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre in Walsall on Saturday 24th September. In total over £4,000 was raised to help support Tommy.

Why Are We Raising Money For Tommy?

On the morning of Thursday 8th March 2012, five month old Tommy Brown woke at 5am with feverish symptoms. By 8am Tommy had developed a purple blotchy rash on his body. His mother rushed him straight to the GP who diagnosed him with the B strain of Meningococcal Meningitis and Septicaemia.

Tommy was immediately taken by ambulance to the Accident and Emergency department at Walsall Manor Infirmary, where medical staff spent several hours trying to stabilise him. In that time, Tommy’s heart had stopped beating and he had to be revived. He was moved to Leicester only to be transferred again after his kidneys shut down. Tommy had begun to turn black and was now at three times his normal size.

His distraught parents were told the devastating news that Tommy was going to lose all four of his limbs and that he only had a 5% chance of survival. He was then christened and underwent a procedure that would see some of the pressure relieved from his limbs.

On the 22nd March, only 14 days after his initial symptoms, little Tommy had a major operation to remove both of his legs below the knee, his right hand, and all of the fingers on his left hand. Tommy then had to have a further operation to remove his right knee as it was not healing correctly.

Tommy is certainly a fighter! Doctors said that is was a miracle he survived and without any brain damage. It was also said that they had never known a child so poorly survive so many amputations at his age.

However, Tommy still needs care and support. As he grows, Tommy will need new prosthetic limbs and aftercare, and this is why  45 members of the Think Insurance team have pledged to ‘Run for Tommy’.

Donations Needed – Help Think Insurance Raise Money For Tommy

Run for Tommy will take place on Sunday 5th November 2017, with the aim of raising £3,000 to help towards the cost of Tommy’s aftercare and ongoing need for prosthetic legs. The run will take place at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire and with 45 of our employees participating, our aim is to take on and conquer the 10k Winter Wolf Muddy Obstacle Course. Any donations would be greatly appreciated and can be made through our JustGiving page.