A five-year-old boy from Brecon crossed a finish line in Cardiff recently in a moment his family once feared they would never see.

Freddie Julian stood from his wheelchair at the end of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity Superhero 5K Fun Day and ran the final stretch holding his dad’s hand.

For his family, it marked a milestone in Freddie’s recovery that began with a sudden and life-threatening illness which left him in intensive care and on life support.

More than 900 “superheroes” took part in the annual event at Glamorgan Cricket Club on June 28, with hundreds more supporters gathering in the sunshine to cheer them on and raise more than £86,000 for the charity.

But for Freddie’s family, the day carried a different weight.

Two years ago, Freddie was a healthy young child when what appeared to be a routine illness escalated rapidly. He became critically unwell after multiple viruses attacked his heart, leading to multiple organ failure.

He spent weeks on life support, including ECMO, before continuing months of rehabilitation at the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales after suffering a significant acquired brain injury.

Freddie’s mum, Vickie, said the priority shifted from survival to what kind of life he might be able to have.

“Two years ago Freddie was taken critically ill, and nearly a month later when he woke from life support not only did we have a new Freddie but we had the uncertainty of knowing whether he would be able to sit, stand or walk again,” she said.

Freddie began a long period of rehabilitation. The months that followed were slow and uncertain, marked by small steps forward and setbacks along the way.

But progress came.

“After months of rehabilitation and recovery in Noahs’s Ark, Freddie re-learnt all of these skills, and is continuing to make progress each day at re-learning the other skills he sadly lost due to his brain injury,” said Vickie.

Today, Freddie is walking short distances, talking more each day and has returned to pre-school. His recovery continues with ongoing therapy.

Sunday’s event brought that journey into sharp focus.

The Superhero 5K Fun Day is designed to celebrate children and young people receiving care at Wales’ only children’s hospital, as well as the families who support them through long and often difficult treatment journeys.

The atmosphere at Glamorgan Cricket Club was deliberately light and celebratory. Families described it as a rare chance to step away from hospital appointments and treatment schedules and spend a day together in a different setting.

There were costumes, music, activities for children and the shared sense of a community built around shared experience.

But the emotional centre of the day, for many, was the 5K itself.

Freddie took part last year in his pushchair. This year, he stood up at the finish line.

Vickie said the moment was something the family will not forget.

“At last year’s Superhero 5k Freddie was wheeled over the line in his pushchair, however this year little Freddie managed to come out of his chair at the end of the race, and run over the finish line himself holding his Daddy’s hand,” she said.

“We really couldn’t be prouder of what Freddie has achieved after everything he’s been through the past two years. His resilience and strength is incredible. To see him run over the finish line out of his chair, was a reminder that through sheer determination and hope, anything is possible.”

She said the event itself had become an important part of their family life, not just as a fundraiser but as a place of understanding.

“It’s so family friendly and really is like a mini festival, celebrating all the real life superheroes who go through the doors of Noah’s Ark each day,” she said.

“There was so much to do, and the entertainment was fantastic, keeping the little ones, and grown ups, occupied all day, with a 5k in the middle.”

For the Julian family, the support from the hospital charity has extended beyond treatment.

“The Noah’s Ark Charity team are always Freddie's number one supporters,” Vickie said.

“Having the charity team there to cheer Freddie over the line was emotional for us all. It truly shows how supportive they are for the children during their hospital stays and beyond, which we will forever be grateful for."

The charity says events like the Superhero 5K Fun Day play an important role in funding services that go beyond what the NHS can provide alone. Money raised helps support families emotionally and practically, as well as funding medical equipment, projects and services within the hospital.

Events manager Samantha Barnard said the day is about more than fundraising.

“The Superhero 5K Fun Day is an amazing opportunity to raise funds but it’s also a way for us as a charity to do what we love doing most - celebrate the incredible strength, resilience and bravery of the children and families we are privileged to support,” she said.

“Seeing hundreds of families from across Wales come together in the sunshine, enjoying time together away from the hospital and cheering each other on, was incredibly special.”

She added that the scale of support reflected the importance of the cause.

“Every person who took part, volunteered, sponsored or donated has helped make a real difference and we can’t thank them enough,” she said.

“The event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our army of dedicated volunteers and headline sponsors RunTech, FireRite, Chepstow Plant International, Richard Burton 10K and Flexicare, whose generosity helped make the day unforgettable.

“Huge thanks to every participant, supporter and sponsor who helped make this year's event its biggest and most successful yet. We’re already looking forward to welcoming families back for another unforgettable Superhero 5K Fun Day next year.”

For more information about the work of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity, including how it supports children and families across Wales, or to make a donation, visit: https://noahsarkcharity.org/