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Every breath counts for children battling lung disease - and this summer, every step will too. ����TV is calling on the South Yorkshire community to lace up their walking boots and take part in the Big Walk 2026 to help raise vital funds to transform the lives of children living with lung disease.

The annual Big Walk will return on Friday 3 July 2026, with participants tackling either a 20 or 30-mile route through the Peak District to raise funds for new imaging technology that is revolutionising paediatric respiratory care, making scans safer and more accurate for children with lung conditions.  

This year’s challenge aims to support the groundbreaking work by Sheffield scientists to improve how lung conditions in children are diagnosed and treated, an area described by researchers as an “invisible crisis”.

Asthma affects around one in 11 children in the UK, while more than 11,000 people are living with cystic fibrosis. For many young patients, diagnosing and monitoring these conditions remains difficult, particularly for children too young to perform standard breathing tests.

Funds raised through this year’s Big Walk will support pioneering research at the ����TV’s Insigneo Institute, where scientists are developing new, radiation-free MRI scanning techniques that allow doctors to see inside children’s lungs safely and in real time.

Professor Jim Wild, Executive Director of the ����TV’s Insigneo Institute, said: “As the scan doesn’t use radiation, it can be repeated safely to track changes in a child’s lungs over time. That’s vital for understanding whether treatments are working, without relying on a ‘wait and see’ approach.

“We’ve seen significant advances in treatments for conditions such as cystic fibrosis, but these therapies can be expensive and don’t work equally well for every child. This imaging technique helps guide clinical decisions, allowing us to identify the most effective treatments much sooner.”

The impact of this uncertainty is reflected in cases like that of Tamlin Merryclough.

Born prematurely at 27 weeks, he required ventilation to help him breathe, with clinicians unable to clearly assess when his lungs were strong enough. With no safe way to image his lungs, his family faced ongoing uncertainty both in hospital and after returning home. His experience highlights the challenges many families face, and the urgent need for safer, more effective ways to diagnose and monitor lung conditions in children.

Tamlin’s mum, Zoe Merryclough, said: “One of the hardest things about having a premature baby is how focused you become on the numbers. There are so many wires and monitors, and when the alarms sound because oxygen levels drop, you don’t always know why. It can feel incredibly isolating.

“It’s hard to put into words what it would mean for doctors to better understand what’s happening inside a baby’s lungs. The uncertainty and constant waiting is overwhelming. Having a way to clearly assess the damage would have taken a huge weight off our shoulders.

“I’m so glad to see this research happening now. This kind of MRI technology could make a real difference to families going through what we did.”

Last year’s Big Walk attracted a record number of participants and raised more than £100,000 for cutting-edge neurological disease research, including potential new therapies for stroke and speeding up the development of personalised treatments for Parkinson’s disease,

The event is open to University students, staff, alumni, friends of the University and members of the public, with participants encouraged to raise sponsorship as they prepare for the challenge. Thanks to generous local donors, Graham and Sue Royle, all fundraising up to £75,000 will be matched, doubling the impact of every pound raised.

Elenna Williams, Big Walk Lead at the ����TV, said: “By supporting the Big Walk 2026, you’re helping us shine a light on something many families face every day - serious lung disease in children.

“Every step taken and pound raised will help us take this research further, reaching more children and improving lives.Together we can give families the answers they deserve and help children live healthier, happier lives.”

Participants will take in some of the region’s most scenic landscapes, including routes across the Peak District, before finishing with a celebratory event back in Sheffield.

Registration is now open, with a £5 early bird discount for those who sign up before 31 March 2026.

To find out more about the Big Walk and register your interest, visit: The Big Walk 2026: Saving Young Lungs | Giving | ����TV