Teenager gives back to charity after surviving road accident

An 18 year old who suffered life-changing injuries when he was run over by a bus has raised over £1,200 for The Sick Children’s Trust as thanks for keeping his parents by his hospital bedside.

At just 11 years old, James Fleming, from South Shields, was crossing the road when got hit at full speed by an oncoming bus. He suffered major injuries and for a month was treated in Newcastle upon Tyne’s General Hospital (now the Campus for Ageing and Vitality), where doctors couldn’t predict whether James would be able to walk or talk again. However, over the next four weeks he received intense physiotherapy from a dedicated care team at the RVI and gradually grew stronger. He also had one-to-one care from his parents Tracy and Ken Fleming, which was possible as they were supported with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation run by The Sick Children’s Trust.

Since his accident, James has defied doctors’ expectations by making an excellent recovery and over the last few years he’s not let the side effects of the incident hold him back. In fact, this year James competed in the Great North Run, which he finished in 1hr 48ms and raised £1,200 for The Sick Children’s Trust. Mum Tracy says:

“I am so proud of James and how far he’s come since the accident.To look at him you’d never think anything had happened and how close we came to losing him. Watching him stride over the finish line and see the smile on his face - knowing he has raised so much for The Sick Children’s Trust - filled us with joy.

“When James was recovering from his accident, it was so important for us to be there, which was made possible by The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Home from Home’ Crawford House. South Shields does not seem like a million miles away from Newcastle, but when you’re told your son may not wake up from his coma, being anywhere but by his side is too far.

“Fortunately, The Sick Children’s Trust came into our lives and helped us see the light during this traumatic time. The charity gave us a place to go, and Crawford House felt like home but was just a few minutes’ walk from James. Crawford House meant that we could get some rest, and when the nurses weren’t with James he wasn’t alone because we could be there.”

Crawford House is located just minutes from the children’s wards at the RVI and supports families who have seriously ill children in hospital with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation. The house has 23 family bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and shared communal areas such as a kitchen, living room and laundry room. James, who is a qualified fitness instructor and currently volunteering at his local gym, says:

“I’ve really enjoyed giving back to The Sick Children’s Trust, the difference they made to my Mam and Dad was incredible. My Mam truly believes that because they were able to stay so close at Crawford House it really helped speed up my recovery, as I had them beside me and wasn’t fighting on my own.”

Crawford House Manager, Gail Stonley, adds: “We’re so pleased to see how far James has come in all these years; it was a pleasure to see him at Crawford House before he set off for the Great North Run. His determination to not let his accident affect him is inspirational.

“We’d like to thank him, his friends and family for helping raise so much money for The Sick Children’s Trust. Although we give families free accommodation, it costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night, so these funds will go a long way in keeping families together with their seriously ill children.”