An eleven-year-old boy is running 5km a day to raise money for Oxford Hospitals Charity after recovering from a rare post-Covid condition that left him critically ill.
At a glance
| Who | Sebbie Harris, 11, from Farnham Common |
| Challenge | Running an average of 5km a day from April 25 to May 25 |
| Cause | Oxford Hospitals Charity, supporting paediatric critical care at the John Radcliffe Hospital |
| Raised so far | £2,677.55, plus £618.75 Gift Aid, when checked on Monday, May 18 |
| Donate | Visit Sebbie’s JustGiving page |
Sebbie Harris is taking on a month-long running challenge to thank the hospital teams who cared for him when he became critically ill two years ago.
The 11-year-old, from Farnham Common, is running an average of 5km a day between April 25 and May 25, raising money for Oxford Hospitals Charity in support of paediatric critical care at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
His original target was £1,000, but donations had already reached £2,677.55, plus £618.75 in Gift Aid, when checked on Monday, May 18.
Why Sebbie is running for the John Radcliffe
Sebbie became seriously unwell in May 2024 and was taken first to a local hospital before being transferred by blue-light ambulance to the John Radcliffe.
His family said he was treated within paediatric critical care, where doctors worked to find the cause of his illness. During his stay, he had surgery to rule out appendicitis, spent time in a medically induced coma and underwent tests for serious conditions including leukaemia and HLH, a rare immune disorder.
He was later diagnosed with PIMS-TS, a rare post-Covid inflammatory condition. His family said the condition caused severe inflammation throughout his body, affected his heart and enlarged his organs.
After 10 days in hospital, Sebbie was discharged home, but his family said his recovery continued after he returned from Oxford.
‘To give back to the people who helped me’
Sebbie’s mum, Louisa Harris, said: “Sebbie was ambulanced to the John Radcliffe Hospital after becoming seriously unwell in May 2024.
“He was admitted straight to the Paediatric Critical Care Unit, where doctors worked quickly to determine the cause of his illness. During his stay, he had surgery to rule out appendicitis, spent time in a medically induced coma, and underwent extensive testing for serious conditions, including leukaemia and HLH, a rare immune disorder.”
Louisa said the family had been through “the hardest days of our lives”, but praised the care Sebbie received.
She added: “Throughout the hardest days of our lives, the staff at the John Radcliffe were extraordinary.
“From the specialist equipment that helped save Sebbie’s life, to the support spaces for families near the unit, every part of the care we received made a huge difference.
“We know fundraising through Oxford Hospitals Charity helps to provide specialist equipment, better facilities and extras that support children and families during incredibly difficult times, and we are so grateful to everyone supporting Sebbie in this challenge.”
Sebbie said he wanted to take on the challenge “to give back to the people who helped me when I was poorly”.
What is PIMS-TS?
PIMS-TS stands for Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome temporally associated with Covid-19.
NHS information describes it as a rare complication of coronavirus which mainly affects school-age children. It is not the same as severe Covid-19 itself, and symptoms can appear weeks after a child has had Covid, sometimes after only mild symptoms or no symptoms at the time of infection.
Great Ormond Street Hospital says PIMS can cause inflammation throughout the body. Symptoms can include a high temperature, rash, tiredness, tummy pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, red eyes and muscle aches.
In Sebbie’s case, his family said the illness became severe and required specialist care at the John Radcliffe.
How donations will help
Oxford Hospitals Charity raises funds for hospitals including the John Radcliffe, Oxford Children’s Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Horton General Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.
The charity says donations help fund medical equipment, research, training and improvements to hospital spaces for patients, families and staff.
Its Friends of Children’s Critical Care fund supports the Oxford Paediatric Critical Care Unit, which looks after children who need high dependency or intensive care.
Lorna Eaton, Supporter Care Assistant at Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: “We’re wishing Sebbie the very best of luck as he continues his incredible challenge. He’s already smashed his fundraising target with two weeks still to go. What an amazing achievement.”
A family challenge
Louisa said Sebbie’s family are proud of him for turning a frightening experience into something positive.
She said: “His dad, Robb, and I will be there beside him on his runs most days, often on a bike to keep up. We are incredibly proud of what Sebbie is doing.”
Donations can be made through Sebbie’s JustGiving fundraising page.
Quick facts
| Fundraiser | Sebbie’s fundraiser for PICU at John Radcliffe Hospital |
| Dates | April 25 to May 25, 2026 |
| Original target | £1,000 |
| Hospital | John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford |
| Charity | Oxford Hospitals Charity, registered charity number 1175809 |
FAQs
Who is Sebbie Harris?
Sebbie Harris is an 11-year-old boy from Farnham Common who became critically ill in May 2024 and was treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
What challenge is Sebbie doing?
He is running an average of 5km a day from April 25 to May 25 to raise money for Oxford Hospitals Charity.
What condition did Sebbie have?
Sebbie was diagnosed with PIMS-TS, a rare post-Covid inflammatory condition affecting children.
How much has Sebbie raised?
His JustGiving page showed £2,677.55 raised, plus £618.75 Gift Aid, when checked on Monday, May 18.
How can people donate?
People can donate through Sebbie’s JustGiving page at justgiving.com/page/sebbie-harris.
