What is The The Toads Adventure Club?
Our Story
During his son's chemotherapy treatment for a brain tumour, our founder Dan, also known as Mr. Toad Jnr, embarked on a heartfelt mission. Fuelled with gratitude for the unwavering support received from The Grand Appeal Charity, which stands by Bristol Children's Hospital, he aimed to give back in a profound way. The result? Thomas's Tumour Journey, a community-driven initiative that rallied the support of compassionate individuals. Together, they achieved an incredible feat, raising an impressive £46,000 in just over a year. The pinnacle of this journey was marked by "The 2 Toads Tandem Challenge" – a remarkable 680-mile tandem ride coupled with the ascent of The Three Peaks. The success of this event illustrated the profound love and support for our world class UK Children's Hospitals. Inspired by this overwhelming sense of community and shared purpose, we made a pivotal decision. Thus, The Toads Adventure Club was born. This initiative aspires to unite Toads across the UK, forming a community dedicated to Supporting, Raising Awareness, and Fundraising for not just one, but all of our nation's Children's Hospital Charities. Our commitment extends beyond the hospital walls by embracing the families navigating some of the hardest situations imaginable. We now want you to join us in this extraordinary adventure – where compassion knows no bounds, and the spirit of community creates ripples of positive impact across the UK. Together, as a united community of Toads, we aim to make a lasting difference in the lives of the children and families receiving care from our children's hospitals.
Meet the Team
Thomas
Thomas, the son of TTAC's founder Dan, has been a patient at Bristol Children's Hospital since he was nine months old. His medical journey began with multiple seizures, leading to the discovery of a brain tumour following an MRI scan.
Thomas underwent 40 hours of neurosurgery, followed by an 18-month chemotherapy regime, including multiple blood transfusions, and countless blood tests. Thanks to everyone from house keeping to his neurosurgeon and oncologist Thomas now lives the life of any other boy in their first year of school. This was a moment his parents feared might never come during the challenging times when he lay partially paralysed after his third surgery.
It's Thomas's remarkable resilience and cheerfulness in the face of adversity that serves as a beacon of inspiration for all that know him. Even in the darkest moments, Thomas's journey reminds us that, eventually, there will be light at the end of the tunnel, even if it's not immediately visible.
Dan
Meet Dan, a Paramedic and the visionary behind The Toads Adventure Club. Known for his inability to sit still, Dan's mind is a whirlwind of adventurous possibilities. Leave him alone for too long, and you might find him acquiring new bikes (or tandems), agreeing to wild agendas, and then dedicating all his spare energy to bring those ideas to life. It's this dynamic spirit that dreamt up The Toads and saw the successful raising of the first £46,000 – proof that letting Dan dream big has its rewards.
According to Dan, "Speed records are boring. Slow things down, interact with others, even bring them along for the ride and watch what would be a lonely walk turn into an unforgettable experience of highs and lows that you can talk about for many years to come." This philosophy forms the foundation of all TTAC adventures.
Dan thrives on hearing your ideas and turning them into reality. So, share your thoughts, and let's turn your dreams into the next unforgettable Toad adventure!