School Boy’s 62-Mile Thank You

A brave 12-year-old boy who suffered a serious rare skin reaction raised over £1,400 for us after completing our 62-miles in October challenge.

Finley Stevens, from Kingswinford, pulled on his trainers to walk, run and ride his bike to take part in the challenge, completing 62 miles in just 31 days and all while recovering from a serious illness.

Finley became unwell in February 2025 and after his mum, Sarah, noticed his lips were red and swollen and ulcers developing in his mouth, she took him to their local hospital where he was admitted. A few days passed and Finley’s condition deteriorated but doctors were unable to find a cause and called upon specialists from our hospital to help diagnose the mystery illness.

With Finley’s oxygen saturation dropping and multiple lacerations developing in his mouth, the team quickly realised that their priority needed to be to protect his airways so Finley was taken to theatre and placed in an induced coma and intubated before being taken to intensive care.

Meanwhile, a bed was organised for Finley on our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and two consultants, a senior nurse and a specialist ambulance driver arrived and worked together to safely and quickly transfer him while he was sedated.

Finley stayed in intensive care for a week and was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Erythema Multiforme Major, two incredibly rare skin reactions, which were especially unusual in the way that they manifested in him, affecting only certain parts of his body, including his eyes, lips, and his nostrils.

Finley began a treatment of multiple medications, including steroid injections into his eyes and his sedation was slowly reduced as they began to take effect. Every day Finley regained control of more of his body and after 15 nights in hospital, he was able to return home to his mum, and brother, Oakley.

Eternally grateful for the care he received at our hospital, and knowing he needed to rebuild his stamina and fitness as part of his recovery, Finley decided to sign up to our 62 Miles in October challenge to raise funds and say thank you.

Finley was determined to complete the distance committed to walking or cycling two miles each day throughout the month, joined by family and friends, completing his challenge while on holiday in Cornwall.

On a roll with his fundraising, Finley didn’t stop there and kept his JustGiving page open to receive donations from a festive non-uniform day he organised at his school in the lead up to Christmas.

Sarah said: “It was absolutely terrifying seeing Finley so poorly, especially when no one could say what was wrong with him but the team at Birmingham Children’s Hospital were so reassuring and the way they got to know Finley and what he liked as they cared for him was just wonderful

“Finley knows how lucky he is to have had such incredible treatment and I’m so proud of him for pushing himself in his recovery to make sure he could give back and say thank you. He’s already looking for his next challenge for 2025 to raise more for the hospital.”

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “It sounds like Finley has been a real trooper through his illness and his recovery and we’re so grateful he chose to support our charity as part of that.

“The incredible funds he raised with his challenge and Christmassy activities at school will go on to help us do more for sick kids, just like him.”