6 September 2024
Couple Walk 100 Miles for Charity, 21 Years After Son’s Cancer Battle
Kevin and Nikki Mundy, along with their son Alfie, are no strangers to Southampton General Hospital. Over two decades ago, Alfie, then just 18 months old, was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour, a rare kidney cancer in children. This September, 21 years later, the Mundy family is embarking on a 100-mile walk to raise funds for the Piam Brown ward, where Alfie received life-saving treatment.
It all began when Nikki noticed something unusual while changing Alfie’s nappy in a Morrisons supermarket. She found blood, a symptom that led her to rush him to the GP. Although the initial diagnosis was thought to be a urine infection, the GP decided to send Alfie to Dorchester Hospital after feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
Nikki vividly remembers the surreal moments that followed, including an X-ray while Kevin, a teacher, finished work. By the next day, they found themselves at Southampton General’s Piam Brown ward, a specialist unit for children with cancer. The family recalls their first encounter with the ward’s caring nurse, Serena, and meeting Alfie’s consultant, Jan Kohler, who brought them some comfort with the news that Alfie’s tumour was at stage 1. “Everything went exactly the way it should,” Nikki recalls.
Alfie’s treatment involved regular visits between Southampton and their home, with the family staying at Click House, allowing them to be together, including Alfie’s older sister. The surgery, performed by Mr. Wheeler on March 17th, was a success. Nikki chuckles at the memory of Alfie’s epidural: “He was supposed to be quiet and sleepy, but we woke up to see him bouncing around in his cot, having pulled all the epidural wires out!”
After completing his treatment, Alfie continued with regular check-ups until he started secondary school. He has since gone on to live a full and healthy life, recently graduating with an MEng in Aerospace Engineering from Swansea University and landing his dream job!
To mark this milestone and give back to the hospital that saved Alfie’s life, Kevin and Nikki have resumed their fundraising efforts.
Earlier this summer, they hosted several events, including a car boot sale and a Prosecco and cake party, with an Auction of Promises raising £871. In one light-hearted moment, the couple promised to mow the lawn of one of the auction winners – in Germany!
Now, the family’s biggest fundraiser is underway. On Friday, 6th September, Kevin and Nikki began their 100-mile sponsored walk from their home in Bridport to Southampton General Hospital. The route will take them over six days, with stops in Portesham, Weymouth, Wool, Bournemouth, Lymington, and Hythe, before reaching the hospital on Thursday, 12th September.
“We’re looking forward to the walk,” said Kevin. “Friends and family are helping us along the way, and even people we don’t know have offered us a place to stay.”
The Mundy family hopes to raise even more money to support the Piam Brown ward in honour of Alfie’s journey. If you would like to donate to their cause, you can visit their JustGiving page at Kevin Mundy’s Crowdfunding.
Good luck to Kevin and Nikki as they take on this incredible challenge – We look forward to greeting you at the finish line!