On Christmas Eve 2007, Darren’s son Hadley at just 18 months old was reaching for a toy from his mum when he suddenly collapsed and suffered a seizure. He was rushed straight to hospital, where his condition deteriorated at a frightening pace. Within a few weeks, Hadley was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Despite months of tests and treatment, no diagnosis could be found. By that time, Hadley was enduring more than 100 seizures every single day.

Doctors told Darren and his wife, Karen, that “it is not possible to keep suffering like this, the human body just can’t take this level of punishment for long.” They were taken aside into a room by the head of neurology who said “Hadley has reached his endurance limits.” Those words marked a moment no parent should ever face. Yet, within the walls of Great Ormond Street Hospital, hope persisted even when reason said it should not. The expertise and relentless care of the doctors and staff achieved what seemed impossible, saving Hadley’s life.

Months later, Darren and Karen walked out of the hospital with their son in their arms, a possibility that had once felt completely out of reach. The journey after was not easy, but there son was alive.

Now 20, Hadley cannot walk or talk and requires constant, round-the-clock care. He still lives with daily seizures, and the impact on his life has been immense.

On the day he left the hospital, Darren made a promise to the GOSH team: “After the care you’ve given to my son, I’m going to make it my life's mission to fundraise and donate every penny spent on Hadley back to GOSH Charity, so you can continue to save the lives of so many seriously ill children like my son.”

That promise became the foundation of Endurance Limits, a commitment to take on extreme endurance events with a single purpose: raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, so hope and support can be given to other families who need it most.