Dad completes Lapland Husky Trail challenge for Claire House

A Merseyside dad has completed a once-in-a-lifetime Lapland Husky Trail challenge for the children’s hospice that supports his seriously ill daughter.

Dad-of-two Dan Ebbrell from St Helens has so far raised more than £3,300 for Claire House Children’s Hospice by husky sledding in the Arctic Circle and camping in the snow.

Claire House, which has a full hospice in Wirral and a site in Liverpool, has supported Dan and his wife Wendy since their daughter Eva was born in 2012.

The charity is a lifeline for many families with seriously ill babies, children and young adults across Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales.

“Eva was born with a genetic disorder that has limited her development and even after countless tests and investigations has never received a diagnosis,” explained Dan.

“She requires 24-hour care and is unable to speak or walk and has a feeding tube. To say that the last 10 years have been tough would be a massive understatement and I cannot imagine how our family could have made it without the support of Claire House.”

Claire House respite breaks have allowed Dan, Wendy, 42, and their eldest daughter Isla, 17, to have a much-needed break.

Dan, 40, said: “These brief reminders of normality have been invaluable. Thanks to Claire House, in November 2017, my wife and I booked a rare holiday to Iceland, knowing Eva was well looked after.

“The trip was amazing. I felt an immediate connection with the country, but couldn't fully enjoy the experience, as I was unwell. I had been experiencing headaches, sinus pain and mouth ulcers for a few weeks leading up to the trip but powered through.

“When we returned home my condition became worse and a few weeks later I received my diagnosis. It was cancer.”

Dan was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which had formed in his sinus cavity and spread through his mouth, jaw and right eye.

He said: “What followed in 2018 was a year of gruelling treatment including chemotherapy, high-dose radiotherapy to my face and torso and eventually a stem cell transplant to prevent the cancer from returning.

“I had to take time off work, but due to our situation with Eva, my wife also had to take time off from her job as a nurse. This is when Claire House really stepped up and became more like family.

“Claire House offered respite care for Eva, so my wife could visit me in hospital, look after me at home and still be a brilliant mother to our eldest daughter without the added pressure of Eva's daily care. I can never thank them enough; they played a huge part in my full recovery.”

Dan has since returned to work on reduced duties and took on the epic Lapland challenge, sledging in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius and tending to a pack of husky dogs.

He said: “Claire House continues to support our family as Eva, now 12, continues to grow and offer us new challenges.

“I wanted to fundraise and raise as much money as I could so that they can continue to support families like ours, as well as end of life care for children and their families when the worst happens.”

To support Dan’s fundraising, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/claire-house-husky-trail-2025