At the age of seven, Harry Byrne has blasted off on a space mission to walk, run, cycle, skip and jump 6,786 miles, the distance round the moon, for his gravely ill little brother.
Harry hopes his challenge will raise £4,000 for children’s hospices which have helped his two-year-old brother Reuben, who was born with a rare condition that causes his brain to deteriorate.
Family, friends and other “moon trekkers” will help Harry cover the 6,786 miles by October 31.
His mum Sophie, 29, said: “Harry has such a special bond with Reuben.
"He’ll put his arms out wide and tell him, ‘I love you around the moon and back’, and Reuben will always give Harry his biggest smiles.
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“Reuben can have up to 10 seizures a day and it’s scary because it’s always in the back of your mind – is this one the last?”
The moon challenge will raise funds for children’s hospices Julia’s House and Naomi House & Jacksplace, which care for seriously ill children like Reuben.
Sophie said: “Reuben has hugely complex needs and must have round-the-clock care. It can be incredibly tiring.
"When the Julia’s House nurses come into our home to give us respite care breaks, it means we can switch off a little.”
Harry plans to take Reuben in his buggy for as many moon miles as he can.
Sophie, of Larkhill, Wilts, said: “It’s like the Winnie-the-Pooh quote, ‘They don’t realise they’re making memories together, they just know they’re having fun’.
"He’s just amazing with Reuben and they’re both so brave.
“That’s what’s going to break our hearts the most when Reuben does pass away because they love each other so much.”
Harry already has support from more than 300 people who have joined his Facebook group, many pledging miles and donations.
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Nicky Clack, fundraising administrator for Julia’s House, said: “Harry’s an incredible big brother.
“He’s been an absolute star raising funds for Julia’s House this year.
"We’d like to say a huge thank you to Harry for racing around the moon, and bon voyage on his cosmic adventure.”
