Last Updated 12th Jun 2026 In the last year we have travelled to Southampton and London for medical appointments for both our children. We had no idea just how challenging this would be both for us and the children.
On an island, it is just not possible to have very specialty in the hospital and so when a child needs something that can’t be provided on island we have to travel to get specialist care.
Whilst the hospital provide the flights for one parent to travel with their child, there is a limit to what is provided. We found ourselves in a place we didn’t know, feeling stressed about the appointment and having to suddenly spend money on food, hotels (not always provided) transport and taking time off school and work to attend appointments which really proved emotionally draining.
We were signposted to family first and honestly would be lost without them. They supported us with additional costs, helped us with planning appointments and travel plans, they even provided counselling and regularly checked in with us to make sure we were ok.
The coffee mornings allowed us to meet other parents whose children needed off island treatment and a place where others shared the understanding of how challenging it can be.

That’s why we want to raise as much as we can to help Family First to continue supporting families from all different backgrounds and circumstances navigate travelling off island for treatment. The work they do is so vital and we want to help make sure that another family is able to get the same support that we have had.
So Ken is taking on the island walk, all 48.1 miles of it to raise money for family first. Please give what you can to support this cause and Ken (he swore he would never try this ever again!).
We are so grateful x