(From the organisers of the Oakfest) Oakley is a two-year-old from Stevenage, born with an incredibly rare brain condition called microlissencephaly.

When he was just days old, doctors told his mum, Daryl, that he might never see, hear, move, or eat — and even advised her not to "waste money" on therapy.

But Oakley's family always believed in his potential.

Thanks to their relentless commitment to fundraising and intensive daily therapy, Oakley is now:

Babbling and using a few words

Playing with sensory toys and his keyboard

Eating solids Smiling, laughing, and bringing joy to everyone who meets him

Working towards crawling

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Experiencing fewer seizures

He's defying the odds every single day — and we want to help him keep doing that.

🎪 ABOUT THE MIGHTY OAKFEST To support Oakley's ongoing therapy and equipment, we're hosting The Mighty OakFest — a free-entry family fun day fundraiser at The Cricketers, Weston (Hitchin) on Saturday 12th July. All funds raised go directly to Oakley's fund via the charity Just4Children (RCN: 1164473).

Shelly Hendy (organiser): "I've seen first-hand the incredible progress Oakley's made through therapy, and every penny raised at The Mighty Oakfest will go directly toward helping him continue to defy expectations. When you support this event, you're not donating without knowing the impact — you'll be able to follow Oakley's journey online and see the difference with your own eyes. I truly believe he's going to surprise everyone."

📣 WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR: Volunteers (just 3 hours makes a huge difference!) Local sponsors Raffle prize donations A volunteer photographer and videographer Entertainers (e.g. pony rides, face painters) willing to offer discounted or donation-based services Performers (live musicians, school choirs, dance troupes, etc.) Stallholders for our pop-up market → https://forms.gle/g8Yw1ksvD2j4fB7p6

Thank you so much for reading — and for everything you do to support our local community.