Find out more about what Shine has been up to, and how you can support us to keep making a real difference in 2025
Save the dates 2025!
Folic for Life!
1st – 8th January 2025
Hydrocephalus Awareness Week 10th – 16th March 2025
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Awareness Week 19th- 25th May 2025
More Shine dates on page 12
Plus lots more exciting Shine news inside!
Welcome to this Christmas edition of Together!
Shine’s membership now stands at over 14,500 babies, children, young people and adults with spina bifida and / or hydrocephalus and associated conditions, which means we have seen a huge growth in people accessing our advice and information. Over 4,000 individuals have had direct, personalised support since April.
Alongside the direct support, we also have some exciting and innovative projects on the go. Experts from across the world are focusing on more research into the conditions, treatment and prevention. Our teams are shaping age-specific programmes, and we now have links to a record number of NHS clinics. Most of these are for children, but we are working hard to influence the development of more transition and adult clinics.
Nothing would happen without the generosity of our
fundraisers, funders, trusts and foundations, corporate supporters, and Shine community. I am extremely grateful for everyone’s support, big or small.
That said, times continue to be challenging, and we need your help to get more people involved in fundraising from across the Shine community so that we can continue to provide FREE membership and services. Our festive fundraising campaign is on the back page of Together for information as to how you can support Shine this Christmas.
I look forward to the incredible work we will continue to do ‘Together’ in the coming year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
Best wishes
The government have finally made mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid law. Shine has campaigned for over 30 years for this move, which will see the number of pregnancies affected by anencephaly, which is a fatal neural tube defect, fall over the coming years. It will also mean that fewer babies will be born with spina bifida, meaning better health as they grow. Thank you to everyone who has been involved and supported Shine along the way. did it!
We thought Benny the Bear was the only little bear in the UK with hydrocephalus but, in October, Shine heard about Boki, a young brown bear with hydrocephalus, being cared for by the Wildwood Trust in Kent, and who became the first brown bear in the UK to undergo a shunt operation. The op and recovery have gone well so far, but we will know more about Boki’s progress when he comes out of hibernation which may be just in time for Hydrocephalus Awareness Week in March.
Shine member, 7-year-old Willow, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus, was lucky enough to have a VIP visit to see Boki just after his operation.
Willow’s mum, Emma, says “It has been amazing and a real privilege to meet with Boki and see him recovering so well after his recent shunt surgery. Willow was able to watch the videos of his procedure and understand what she went through when she was younger - such a fabulous way to help educate regarding hydrocephalus. Thank you Boki and Wildwood! Huge thanks to Wildwood Trust for working with us to help raise greater awareness of hydrocephalus and the services that Shine provide'.
However, if you are a member who wants to continue receiving your copy of Together by post, please let us know by calling 01733 555988 or emailing firstcontact@shinecharity.org.uk and the team will update your records.
Each year, Shine produces an annual report and accounts and is required to submit these to both the Charity Commission and Companies House, as part of the monitoring that takes place to make sure we are doing what we say we are going to do and are using Shine’s funds as we should be.
Whilst the title ‘Annual Report, may not sound overly exciting, we’d like to think that the actual contents is well worth a read as is a review of Shine’s work and important achievements over the past 12 months. It highlights progress we are making in delivering our plan to continually develop and deliver better services to more people living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and associated conditions.
In 2023/24, Shine brought in a total of £2,155,115 income and spent £2,274,459, with a huge 68% of that expenditure being invested directly in the services and support for our members.
If you’d like to read the report, visit www.shinecharity.org.uk/annualreport
Gill Valentine, Shine’s Director of Services, faced her fear of heights after she took to the skies on Friday 4th October 2024 by jumping out of a plane to raise money for Shine!
“I joined Shine 18 months ago and have seen our members, their families and friends and my colleagues raise money so we can continue to provide our services. So why not me! I am not a risk taker and don't really like heights, but what an opportunity to take part in an activity that is completely different and out of my comfort zone, whilst raising money for a great charity and awareness of spina bifida and hydrocephalus at the same time!” says Gill. To date, Gill has raised almost £800!
If you want to raise awareness and money for Shine, you don’t have to jump out of a plane. See page 15, or go to, www.shinecharity.org.uk/getinvolved for lots of great ideas
The Northern Ireland clinic has a new consultant.
Dr Jane Anketell, a consultant in neuro-rehabilitation medicine, undertook her medical degree in Scotland and completed her training in Rehabilitation Medicine, working across the specialities in Musgrave Park Hospital. She has many years of experience in working with adults with spina bifida.
The clinic runs every Tuesday afternoon and is open to residents in Northern Ireland. If you are not already a patient at the clinic, referrals can be made from your GP or another consultant.
To find out more about how to get a clinic appointment to see Dr Anketell, please call Marie McGonnell, Shine NI Manager, on 07789 616420.
STAR is Shine’s new schools’ programme designed to improve SEND / ALN provision by giving schools the tools and information to create a supportive and inclusive environment.
The award is offered FREE to nurseries, schools and colleges. To gain the award, schools must sign up and complete tasks to show their commitment to understanding hydrocephalus and/or spina bifida, and to making the educational experience for any Shine members.
If you would like your child’s school to know more about STAR, find out more at www.shinecharity.org.uk/schoolaward, contact us at firstcontact@shinecharity.org.uk or call 01733 555988 and our Education Officer will be in touch.
Our regular Shine events are a great way to stay connected with Shine and with other members of the charity who also have spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.
Events run every month and are usually run by one of our staff members.
Here are some of our most popular…
Chatter Matters
A catch up with fellow Shine members to keep up to date with Shine news and an opportunity for members to share their interests and hobbies.
Occulta and Me
A chance to connect with members who have been diagnosed with spina bifida occulta.
Coffee, Chat & Quiz or Bingo Friendly and relaxed chat with other Shine members and a fun quiz to boot!
Hydro & Me!
A monthly information and support session which covers various topics about managing and living with hydrocephalus.
Shine Social Book Club
A monthly book club to share thoughts about the group’s current read of the month.
Offering our teenage members a safe space to meet others of the same age, make new friends and develop bonds that will last a lifetime.
Monthly Teen Socials
Ages 5-8 and 8-12
Little Stars Zoom takes place every month usually from 4:30-5pm
Join the Little Stars team for some online fun and games. An opportunity to make new friends while playing some popular fun online games!
Shine members and their families will, no doubt, be pleased to know that there is an abundance of research going on across the world into spina bifida, hydrocephalus, normal pressure hydrocephalus and associated conditions.
Shine was honoured to be asked to support the Society for Research into Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida (SRHSB) annual international conference in Manchester from 4th – 6th September, showcasing the latest research in spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
Experts shared insights on topics ranging from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics and fetal surgery to stem cell applications and non-invasive diagnostics, providing a broad overview of advancements in treatment and patient care.
The conference concluded with a series of presentations from Shine, highlighting key initiatives, including:
• Shine’s "1000 Voices" study, which addresses health and lifestyle challenges in ageing with spina bifida and advocating for improved healthcare access
• Shine's spinal stimulation service, showcasing the therapy’s potential to improve mobility and sensation. We hope to publish the results of our service evaluation in the next couple of years and build on the growing professional interest in using the technique.
• Shine’s children’s continence support group which offers a safe, supportive space for children to gain confidence in managing bladder and bowel care whilst connecting with their peers.
We were also very proud and humbled to learn that the Health Team were collectively awarded the President’s Talk Prize for “outstanding talks, capturing the scope of Shine's activities”.
You can see a full blog post on Shine’s website here www.shinecharity.org.uk/srhsbannualconference2024
A key part of Shine’s work focuses on raising awareness and building connections with UK organisations and networks so that we can educate professionals about the conditions we represent, and also provide those professionals with access to advice and support so that, in turn, they can improve the support and services provided to you.
In the last few months, Shine’s Health Team have been at the Bladder and Bowel UK Coventry Symposium and the ERIC Paediatric Continence Care Conference promoting our continence service to healthcare professionals, as well as networking and keeping up to date with clinical updates and best practice.
At the ERIC conference, the Health Team shared a poster presentation about our children’s continence service and spoke briefly about why this is so important and how it positively impacts the children that access it.
Shine supports members in every corner of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but no two people and places are ever quite the same!
In a new series, we’ll shine a light on our work in different regions across the UK and celebrate the achievements of Shine members who live there. In this issue, we look back over the past 12 months and focus our attention on the Shine community in the South-East of England, where we support 3,120 people and their families.
What people needed
Since January 2024, 188 new people from the SouthEast have joined Shine. We have welcomed 14 new babies and 29 individuals over 60. Every single new member has received a personal welcome call from Shine, outlining the support we provide.
How Shine helped
We responded to almost 2,000 calls and emails from 800+ Shine members in the South-East. We answered 233 calls relating to wellbeing, which covered topics from support with diet and exercise, socialising and friendships or providing a listening ear and emotional support for members and their carers coping in difficult circumstances.
Over 250 members also contacted Shine’s specialist Health Team for support – and received expert advice relating to continence, physiotherapy, shunt management, surgical procedures and skin care.
The enormous pressure on statutory services means that it is often difficult for members to get the support they need – and Shine provided a lifeline to many facing lengthy waiting lists or last-minute cancellations.
Our members across the South-East are a sociable bunch. Over 500 took part in our face-to-face and online events in 2024. We were delighted to see families from Hampshire at Wonder in Havant, bringing together 24 young members at Bocketts’ Farm and talking to our adult members with NPH at the Phoenix Pub in London Victoria over a lovely lunch.
Others opted to join our WhatsApp groups for members from the region – with 297 people contributing to chats for Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight and 147 supporting each other across Kent and East Sussex. Our WhatsApp groups are a quick and easy way to connect with the Shine community – ideal for getting to know people prior to attending one of our face-to-face events.
In 2024, we connected with almost 200 Shine members through our regular presence in specialist spina bifida and hydrocephalus clinics at hospitals in London and Oxford. Please look out for us if you are due to attend.
We are incredibly proud to share just a few of the many achievements: By taking the time to contact Shine, 424 people improved their knowledge about their condition, equipping themselves to manage it better and take good care of their health.
23 people used our tools to negotiate better support at work – so they could get the adjustments they needed to perform well in their roles.
Teachers and parents worked together to arrange Shine training for almost 50 schools – which meant teachers and staff were better equipped to support our members to thrive in the classroom.
And finally, an incredible 679 people told us that they felt better connected to others and were enjoying more positive relationships in their lives – thanks to the Shine community that they have helped to build.
None of this work would be possible without the support of our funders, some of whom dedicate their gifts specifically to support our work in this region. Thank you for the difference you have made.
From experience, Shine knows the difference that having your bladder and bowelcare needs better understood and met, can be life changing and can positively impact both your physical and mental health.
On page 10, we talk about our work to improve access to good continence care in Nigeria, but we also wanted to highlight some of our new initiatives to improve continence services and support for our Shine members.
Tailored advice and information
Shine’s Health Team supports our members with information and advice around bladder and bowel care and aim to ensure members have the knowledge and understanding about bladder and bowel care to support you to be independent and confident with your continence care.
Shine also has a wealth of information on continence and good bladder and bowel care at www.shinecharity.org.uk/continencemanagement
Essential information for your GP and other healthcare professionals
Our Health Team have created a letter for you to share with GPs or any professionals that care for you.
This letter includes information about bladder cancer and that adults with spina bifida are at an increased risk of this. The signs and symptoms can be vague, such as blood in the urine, difficulty inserting your catheter or increased frequency of UTIs, but if you let your GP know about these symptoms, they will be more aware that any signs could signal bladder cancer. The earlier it is picked up, the better the outcome is likely to be.
Shine’s Hospital passport can also help with continuing continence care www.shinecharity.org.uk/passports
If you would like to share this letter with a health professional that cares for you, access this here www.shinecharity.org.uk/downloads/adult-continence-letter.pdf
For parent / carers of our younger members: www.shinecharity.org.uk/downloads/childens-continence-letter-cin.pdf
Shine is proud to share news on our Children’s continence service, which is now supported by BBC Children in Need.
As for our adult members, Shine’s Health Team supports our members with information and advice around bladder and bowel care, but for children and young people we can also offer practical advice around toileting both at home, in the community and in education settings.
We offer support for children, young people, their parents and care givers, both on a one to-one basis, and, where appropriate, as part of an online group. Recognising that building knowledge and understanding of continence at a young age is an important part of gaining independence and confidence managing bladder and bowel care routines. Our online group also helps to create a sense of community and connection.
Need support or information?
Whether you are a Shine adult member, a parent/carer of a child or young person with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus or a professional, please contact the Health Team if there’s anything we can support you with regarding your bladder and bowel management at firstcontact@shinecharity.org.uk or call 01733 555988.
Shine’s new youth programme for teenagers living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus will give you opportunities to have fun and work with others to broaden horizons, boost your social skills and find a place to simply be yourselves.
FIRE will help you:
• Meet new friends of similar ages with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus
• Develop goals to move towards independence
• Learn new skills, grow your confidence and improve your resilience
• Feel more empowered by joining our network of youth groups
You are also welcome to join our F.I.R.E. Monthly Teen Social!
Go to Shine’s events page www.shinecharity.org.uk/events to sign up now!
Feeling a bit nervous about getting involved? Email Maddie, Shine’s Youth Voice & Engagement Officer at madison.powell@shinecharity.org.uk to find out more. You can also ask your Mum or Dad, or someone else who cares for you, to contact Maddie if you prefer.
You may not feel you need help, but you do, and Shine can provide that help”
This is the advice from 17-year-old Owain to other young people living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.
“Mum and Dad tell me that we have been involved with Shine since they first had the news at the 20-week scan that I had spina bifida. I know they have accessed a range of support over the years, including vast input from Shine Cymru’s Manager, Sian and Shine’s Specialist Health Team. This has helped them, and me, prepare for independence and better understand my disability.
Shine has given me the confidence to manage my condition, without always relying on others.
I have been involved in the youth working groups with people my own age who have spina bifida, so feel comfortable sharing my opinions, knowing that others understand me and the challenges I face in everyday life. I think that has helped with my ‘go get’ attitude,
which I never used to have.
I am loving college and try to keep fit at the gym. I have just completed my Duke of Edinburgh award. I am into model railways too but my biggest passion at the moment is my wheelchair racing. It’s not that long since I took it up, so am really proud to have been crowned Welsh Champion in the under 20s 100M and 400 metre wheelchair racing. My goal is to represent my country at 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.
I have met some great friends through my connection with Shine and I am sure these friendships will last forever”.
"I was born with myelomeningocele spina bifida. I had an operation my back when I was 3 days old - my parents used to describe it as a jelly fish. Although my parents felt scared, they always believed that I would achieve great things no matter what the health professionals believed.
I was born a healthy weight of 7lb 2oz and although I was quite weak, my legs moved so that was a positive sign. My bowel function was terrible. I had no control and even to this day spina bifida has me on that one! My bladder was also, and still is, a problem.
My back healed really well, and I was known as the happiest baby on E39. I never cried. I just smiled. At a month old my head started to increase in size. Whilst a shunt was an option, at the time there was a new treatment called an ETV (Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy) which offered the chance to avoid further surgeries and complications. It worked for a while, but no one warned me about having to live with a big head and being stuck with a fringe for the rest of my life. I do wear it well though!
“…spina bifida and hydrocephalus are my superpowers, and I own them! …”
I needed daily physio, and lots of regular tests including urodynamics where they check the urine pressures and size of my bladder before any reflux would go to my kidneys. I only have one fully working kidney and this has caused high blood pressure.
Catheterising was a scary thought for my parents but now after 18 years I would be lost without my silicone friends, latex free of course. Urine infections are also a huge pain in the….. bladder but having kidney disease on top can make things more challenging for me.
I lose my balance A LOT and have little sensation in my legs which makes walking difficult so I now use an electric wheelchair. There is no stopping me!
Life hasn’t been straight forward. I’ve faced surgery on my brain, de-tethering of my spine and colostomy
surgery as well as many trips to A&E for urine infections and E. coli. I find talking to people very difficult as I often misunderstand them. Recently I had to go for Botox into my bladder. The surgeon explained the risks and asked me to sign the consent form, when he had left my mum asked if I fully understood what he had just told me….. but I didn’t, oops!
I have always faced challenges due to my disability, not only physically but emotionally and socially too. At school they would stop me going out to be with my friends, due to the risk of falling and banging my head. I was also not allowed to study a childcare course in sixth form, which greatly affected my confidence. However, I have all of my GCSEs. I have an accounting qualification, and I am currently studying Business level 3 at college. Remembering information will always be a challenge but with support (especially from my incredible learning support assistants) I can achieve anything I set my mind to, I will always defy the odds!
I am stronger than I look, smarter than you think I am and braver than anyone I know.
Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus are my superpowers, and I own them!
Having complex medical needs is hard, upsetting, and confusing but never underestimate a positive attitude and the love and support from the most important people in your lives they are all who matter. Keep shining brightly"!
Shine’s work with Festus Fajemilo Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria - Kate Steele, Shine’s CEO.
Many children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in Nigeria live in poor families. Healthcare is expensive and access to vital services to aid in managing continence and other health issues is very hard to come by. There are also many cultural and religious stigmas that can hinder treatment.
The Festus Fajemilo Foundation (FFF) was set up in 2006 by husband and wife, Afolabi and Adewumi Fajemilo after their son Festus was born with hydrocephalus, to support people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus with equal rights and better access to affordable health care to improve their quality of life.
In 2015, Shine welcomed the FFF team to the UK on a Commonwealth Fellowship visit, to see the work that Shine does and how it might help in Nigeria.
Their visit highlighted the huge differences in the treatment and outlook for children born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in the UK compared with Nigeria.
This hit home with me when I was talking to Afolabi, and he received a call from his office in Lagos to say that a grandmother had turned up with her grandson, Gabriel, as he was in excruciating pain and unable to pass urine. They had nowhere else to turn.
At that time, Nigeria had no public health continence service. This meant that very few families with spina bifida were able to use CIC (clean intermittent catheterisation) or bowel washouts to keep their children well.
With no access to catheters and other continence aids, many children were repeatedly developing urinary tract infections, serious pressure sores and damaged kidneys. Sadly, many did not survive.
So, determined to improve try to improve the situation for little Gabriel and others, after much discussion, many Zoom meetings and countless financial projections, Afolabi and I came up with a plan.
Saving Lives! Improving Futures was born! Together, we set up a continence care and management project for people with spina bifida across Nigeria.
To date:
• 89 nurses have been trained in continence care and management, learning the theory but also developing the practical skills required.
• 9 hospitals across the country are now running regular continence clinics.
• FFF is running a regular clinic in Lagos, Nigeria’s biggest city.
But most importantly… babies, children, young people and adults in Nigeria have been supported
We are extremely proud of our partnership work with FFF, and we hope to continue long into the future as there is still much more to do in a country with over 234 million people!
I was fortunate to spend some time in Nigeria earlier this year, visiting with two specialist continence nurses from Wales, who have been instrumental in training Nigerian nurses to teach CIC, bowel washouts and good hygiene. Even though the service is being delivered in the most basic of homes, and with the most basic equipment, it is making a huge difference to lives.
Afolabi was able to contact one of the FFF Trustees, a neurosurgeon in Lagos, who referred Gabriel and his grandmother to a nephrologist colleague at the same hospital. He was able to treat Gabriel.
Now 17, Gabriel is receiving regular continence care and is healthy and happy.
Our work is literally ‘Saving Lives! And Improving Futures’.
In this section we are debunking myths associated with clinical negligence and answering frequently asked questions.
The decision to bring a claim for negligence can be a difficult one – it is not a quick nor easy process and it can mean having to recall painful experiences about the impact the mistake has had on you and your family.
Question: Is making a clinical negligence claim morally wrong?
Panel’s answer: We recognise that it can be a huge decision to seek compensation on behalf of yourself or a child. Most of our clients come to us to find answers about what has happened, and to make sure that it doesn’t happen to anyone else. It can also be difficult to contemplate a claim when you or a family member are receiving care where you have concerns.
Compensation can also give access to the education, employment, activities and support needed to become as healthy and independent as possible.
If you, or your child, has suffered an injury because of the care received (including before or during birth), there is a chance that this will create additional needs for support and care throughout life.
The purpose of a claim is to put you back as close as possible to where you would have been had the negligence not happened, acknowledging that you are now facing additional challenges to what you would have otherwise faced.
Shine Health Direct is a
We have worked hard to develop this innovative service so that it will benefit
It's as simple as 1, 2, 3...
is a breeze. Just tell us what you need, and we handle the rest – even liaising with your GP!
Your dedicated personal advisor will reach out to you on a pre-arranged date, ensuring a seamless ordering process for your products and medication. Sit back and relax as your essentials are swiftly delivered to your doorstep by a local driver or courier – discreetly and without hassle.
Sarah has been a member of Shine since she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, we’ve been supporting her in any way we can, including providing her with a shunt alert card, which she always has with her in case of emergencies!
We had a chat with Sarah and got to hear all about her story and experience of living not only with
Hydrocephalous, but also with epilepsy, cerebral palsy and a vision impairment linked to cerebral palsy.
“I’ve been a member of Shine ever since I was diagnosed, and Shine have been so helpful throughout the whole time I’ve been with them. They’ve provided me with a shunt alert card which I always have with me.
time and care to explain everything to me stepby-step. My parents contacted Shine when I was diagnosed as a a baby and have reached out for advice throughout the years on my shunt, education (primary, secondary and university) as well as getting advice on flying and going on holiday abroad!
“…Shine have been so helpful throughout the whole time I’ve been with them!…”
Last year I did a sponsored swim for Shine, I swam 5 miles and raised £355, I loved it!
3 years ago, I lost a big portion of my vision, and my doctors still don’t know why. The first thing I did was to have ICP (Intracranial Pressure) monitoring to rule out that it wasn’t the shunt. Throughout that whole time Shine was always on hand to help with any queries or problems.
Their support is amazing, and they always take the
If something was wrong, they would always help to rule out the shunt first. I’ve found that as long as I stay hydrated and have my shunt alert card on me at all times, I can manage my hydrocephalous well!
Losing a significant amount of vision 3 years ago meant I had to adapt to a new way of living, alongside already having multiple lifelong conditions. Over the last 3 years I have spoken with my consultant about whether my vision will ever restore itself, however it hasn’t shown any sign of coming back. I also stopped being able to tolerate glasses as I was getting uncomfortable side effects. So, since my loss of vision I’ve now been using a long cane. Shine and The Thomas Pocklington Trust have been a huge support in helping me handle everything.”
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In the past few months, so many people have been fundraising for Shine. There have been runs, treks, bake sales, school dress down days, raffles, family fun days, birthday celebrations, to name just a few.
Unfortunately, we can’t name everyone personally, however on behalf of everyone at Shine we’d like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to each and every one of you for everything you did and all the money you raised!
If you’d like to Get Involved and support Shine, take a look at our website or contact one of the team by email fundraising@shinecharity.org.uk or call 01733 555988 or visit www.shinecharity.org.uk/getinvolved
We’d like to say a big thank you to our 10 amazing London Marathon runners – between them they’ve raised an incredible £48,024 for Shine!
We have 16 runners in next year’s event, thanks to several people being successful in getting a place via the ballot, so we wish them and everyone else taking on a running event for us in 2025 the very best of luck!
2024 has been another busy year here at Shine and so far we’ve supported over 4,200 people and dealt with over 9,200 separate issues.
This FREE support provided to our members is only possible thanks to the generosity of our fabulous fundraisers and donors and we are very grateful for all the time and energy that everyone puts in to support Shine. Please help us to continue this valuable work into 2025.
Any donation you can make at this festive time of year, big or small, will be greatly appreciated. You can give in memory of a loved one, in celebration of family and friends or just because you want to! Please do share the reason for your donation, whichever method you choose.
Alternatively, our fundraising team are available to help you find out how to Get Involved in 2025! Get in touch by calling 01733 555988 or email fundraising@shinecharity.org.uk or visit www.shinecharity.org.uk/getinvolved
Many of Shine’s FREE services are entirely funded by the general public's generosity, however you choose to support Shine would be greatly appreciated!
Fundraise… From marathons to quizzes, baking to skydiving, there are so many ways to have fun, whilst funding our crucial work. Involve your school... From non-uniform days to bake sales, there are lots of ways your school could get involved with Shine.
Leave a legacy… By remembering Shine with a gift in your Will, your legacy will live on, make a lasting difference to Shine in the future.
Involve your workplace… Your colleagues or employees could fundraise, support us through payroll giving or even make Shine 'Charity of the Year'. You could also share your services, expertise, resources or influence.
Follow us on social media and encourage others to support us… Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and LinkedIn.
Find out how you can help and more at www.shinecharity.org.uk/getinvolved
Just £30 will help us provide 1-2-1 specialist support for those who need it. www.shinecharity.org.uk/donate Give it up
Take on our iconic bucket list challenge of climbing the three highest Yorkshire peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park on Saturday 19th July 2025.
The aim is to complete the challenge in 12 hours, taking in over 5,000ft of ascent and descent over a distance of roughly 24 miles.
You'll join other Shine walkers on this trek and be supported by qualified, first aid trained mountain leaders and marshals provided by our partner OverLimits.
Find out more: www.shinecharity.org.uk/yorkshire3peaks
Join our January Fundraising Challenge to make a change to your own lives and to others by helping us support those affected by spina bifida and / or hydrocephalus.
Improve your health and wellbeing by giving up your unhealthy habits for a month, and donate what you save to Shine to help us fund our first contact support and advice line.
Find out more: www.shinecharity.org.uk/giveitup
Make a difference to people living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in the UK.
You can help us continue to offer FREE support to our Shine community by fundraising or donating today!
To find out more visit shinecharity.org.uk/festiveseason
I can’t imagine how we would have navigated the diagnosis and first few months of Charlie’s life without Shine!
By donating to Shine people are directly helping families like us who face the challenges of spina bifida and / or hydrocephalus”.
Shine member Charlie’s mum
