INSPIRED VOICES #4 John and Donna Connett

In this week’s episode of Inspired Voices, Cath and Adam welcome John and Donna Connett to the studio where they discuss their family’s inspiring story and the incredible fundraising efforts they have achieved over the past decade.

John and Donna’s son Lewis was born with Apert syndrome, a rare genetic disorder which affects around 1 in every 65,000 newborns. The condition fuses bones together and is characterised by malformations of the skull, face, hands and feet. After noticing issues after Lewis’ birth, he was referred to Alder Hey, with the family travelling from their home in Yorkshire. Over the past 11 years, Lewis has bravely faced 20 operations and numerous appointments and procedures, becoming a much-loved member of the Alder Hey family. He, along with his family has appeared in Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s annual Matalan pyjama campaign, and Lewis was even chosen to present Queen Elizabeth II with a bouquet of flowers when she officially opened Alder Hey in 2016.

Over the past ten years, John, Donna, Lewis, and Lewis' elder brother Hayden have formed ‘Team Lewis Challenges’, and alongside their wider family and friends have taken on numerous challenges and fundraising events, raising an astonishing sum that currently stands at over £67,000. In this podcast, John and Donna speak openly about what inspires them to fundraise for Alder Hey and why others should get involved in fundraising.

Listen now!

*Episodes of Inspired Voices may feature references to medical procedures