Skye Mercati

Our Group/Family

I'm joining the race to help beat childhood cancer

I’m taking part in Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity’s family festival and fun run, RBC Race for the Kids, to raise money to help build the new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

I'm taking part in RBC Race for the Kids

Our son, our little fighter: Laurence Mercati GOSH journey
The moment you become a parent, you imagine a perfect future for your child. But for us, that image was challenged when Laurence was born, We learned that our little boy had a complex congenital heart condition called Trilogy of Fallot. His heart hadn't formed correctly. Our world, filled with hopes and dreams, was suddenly consumed with worry and uncertainty.
The weeks and months that followed were a blur of specialist appointments, and an overwhelming amount of information. We were told that Laurence would need open-heart surgery within 6 months. The fear was immense, but we found solace in the exceptional team at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). They were not just doctors and nurses; they were a lifeline.
Then, just as we were preparing for this monumental surgery, a new and terrifying variable entered our lives: the COVID-19 pandemic. June 2020—the time of Laurence’s surgery—was a period of unprecedented fear and lockdown. The world felt like it was holding its breath, and so were we. We had to navigate hospital visits with strict restrictions, wear masks, and experience the isolation that came with a global crisis. It was a time when human connection was limited, yet the GOSH team's care and compassion never wavered. They were our constant in a world that had been turned upside down.
Laurence was 6 months when he underwent his life-saving surgery. It was a long, anxious day, filled with endless waiting. But thanks to the skill and dedication of the surgical team, the operation was a success. Watching our little boy recover, surrounded by tubes and wires in the Intensive Care Unit, was one of the hardest things we have ever done. But day by day, Laurence’s strength and spirit shone through.
Today, Laurence is a happy, energetic little boy who loves to play, laugh, and explore. His chest has a scar—a beautiful reminder of his incredible journey and the second chance he was given. He is our superhero that we call Iron man.
We are fundraising for GOSH because we know firsthand how vital their work is. They don't just treat conditions; they heal families and give children like Laurence the chance to live a full and happy life. Your donation will help fund pioneering research, state-of-the-art medical equipment, and provide vital support for families during their darkest times.
Please consider donating to our page and help us give back to the hospital that gave us our son. Every pound you give is a pound of hope for another family just like ours.

Our Iron Man

Our son, our little fighter: Laurence Mercati GOSH journey

The moment you become a parent, you imagine a perfect future for your child. But for us, that image was challenged when Laurence was born, We learned that our little boy had a complex congenital heart condition called Trilogy of Fallot. His heart hadn't formed correctly. Our world, filled with hopes and dreams, was suddenly consumed with worry and uncertainty.

The weeks and months that followed were a blur of specialist appointments, and an overwhelming amount of information. We were told that Laurence would need open-heart surgery within 6 months. The fear was immense, but we found solace in the exceptional team at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). They were not just doctors and nurses; they were a lifeline.

Then, just as we were preparing for this monumental surgery, a new and terrifying variable entered our lives: the COVID-19 pandemic. June 2020—the time of Laurence’s surgery—was a period of unprecedented fear and lockdown. The world felt like it was holding its breath, and so were we. We had to navigate hospital visits with strict restrictions, wear masks, and experience the isolation that came with a global crisis. It was a time when human connection was limited, yet the GOSH team's care and compassion never wavered. They were our constant in a world that had been turned upside down.

Laurence was 6 months when he underwent his life-saving surgery. It was a long, anxious day, filled with endless waiting. But thanks to the skill and dedication of the surgical team, the operation was a success. Watching our little boy recover, surrounded by tubes and wires in the Intensive Care Unit, was one of the hardest things we have ever done. But day by day, Laurence’s strength and spirit shone through.

Today, Laurence is a happy, energetic little boy who loves to play, laugh, and explore. His chest has a scar—a beautiful reminder of his incredible journey and the second chance he was given. He is our superhero that we call Iron man.

We are fundraising for GOSH because we know firsthand how vital their work is. They don't just treat conditions; they heal families and give children like Laurence the chance to live a full and happy life. Your donation will help fund pioneering research, state-of-the-art medical equipment, and provide vital support for families during their darkest times.

Please consider donating to our page and help us give back to the hospital that gave us our son. Every pound you give is a pound of hope for another family just like ours.

RBC Race for the Kids 2025

GOSH already cares for children with the hardest to treat cancers, and new treatments are giving hope to children and their families. But these advances have outstripped GOSH's current cancer facilities.

We need a new home for breakthrough treatments and pioneering research, so we can save more children's lives. And because cancer shouldn't get to steal anyone's childhood, we need a place that's more than a hospital – a place that's a school, a playground, a garden, and so much more.

Please consider sponsoring me. Together, we can build it. Together, we can help beat childhood cancer.

Please help me reach my goal

Raised

£2,175

+ £37.50 GiftAid + £0 Pledged

My Goal

£2,500

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I confirm I am a UK taxpayer and would like Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity to reclaim tax on this donation, any future gifts I make, and any donations I have made in the past four years. I understand that if I pay less Income or Capital Gains Tax than the amount claimed on all my donations in that tax year (April 6 – April 5) it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Please note that Gift Aid cannot be claimed by one individual on monies collected from multiple donors e.g., birthday collections.