Hartlepool dad will walk 13 miles dressed as a princess and you could join him!

Paul O’Donovan, whose daughter Lyla recently had a 10th operation on her brain, is doing it to show that ‘anything is possible if you have determination’.

On Sunday, September 13, the dad originally from Hartlepool will walk from his current home in Ushaw Moor to the Angel of the North and hopes loads of people will join him for a day to remember.

He will be dressed as Princess Aurora and said: “I’m going to go the whole way and get the hair and high heeled shoes and everything.”

Not everyone taking part in the walk has to dress as a princess but they do have to don a Disney outfit.

Paul explained: “I am doing it as a princess because that is what Lyla wants and if you are going to do it, you might as well go all out.”

Lyla has had ten operations on her brain so far and six of them have been at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Paul added: “We chose the route because the Angel of the North has always been a comfort to Lyla on her way to hospital.

"Every time she goes to hospital, she always blows it a kiss and says ‘you are looking after me’.”

The seven-year-old has also come through meningitis, been treated for hydrocephalus and had a shunt put into her head, all in the last four years.

Lyla’s latest surgery at Newcastle’s RVI hospital on Friday, May 22, was carried out to try to reduce the number of dangerous and frightening seizures she regularly suffers.

Back in May, Paul ran 18 miles from Durham to the Royal Victoria Infirmary to thank the health team which has always been there for his daughter. Now comes the walk which Paul hopes will get lots of support from others who want to join him on the route.

There will be a mini bus following the procession for anyone who needs a rest or a break, and families will be encouraged to stick to their own ‘bubble’ to adhere to pandemic restrictions.

More details on the walk can be found at the ‘Lyla’s Brain Tumour Journey’ Facebook page where a post said: “This is a 13 mile walk to show our children and others that anything is possible if you have determination.

"Children are encouraged to join in and you don’t have to walk the full 13 miles, pick parts of the walk you want to do.

“Sponsorship forms are available upon request, and all money raised from the walk will go towards helping other families of seriously ill children.”

Another big development for the Lyla’s Brain Tumour Journey cause is that it has applied for charity status.

Paul said: “We have been planning it for 18 months and putting everything in the right place, and getting the right team around us.

"We have been doing a lot behind the scenes and getting the documentation ready and the ambassadors ready.

"We have gone in for charity status but we shall still be keeping our core values of raising awareness and helping other children with serious illnesses.”

Paul, also dad to Henry, Olivia, Lilley and Reece, documents Lyla’s ups and downs on the Facebook page Lyla's Brain Tumour Journey.

Her courage has helped many people going through hard times themselves, and Lyla and Lilley have awarded hundreds of their own certificates to them.

Lyla is well known to Hartlepool Mail readers after winning a Child of Courage trophy at last year’s Best of Hartlepool Awards.

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