To sustain our life saving and life changing Health Services costs Shine over £180,000 a year, all of which we have to raise through voluntary sources. Our balloon races make a significant contribution to this every year and your kind support in the event will enable us to continue to provide this service via our Health Advisers

Shine’s Health Advisers work with families and individuals to ensure that the shunt that manages their hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) does not malfunction, which can sometimes result in near-fatal damage.

Our Advisers are also on hand to offer their expert advice to new parents of a baby born with spina bifida. When the baby first comes home can be a very stressful time for the parents. The Health Adviser is on hand to offer reassurance and to “teach” the parents best practices when looking after their newborn baby. The support and comfort they provide is immeasurable as their child will often undergo multiple surgical procedures during the first year, something our Health Advisers have experienced on many occasions. The baby also becomes a member of our ‘Benny & Bella Bear Club’. Benny has hydrocephalus and Bella has spina bifida. They are Shine’s mascots and act as a great way for our younger members to learn more about their own condition.