Family embarks on fundraisers to remember Vinnie

Friends and family of eight-year-old Vinnie Barker who died suddenly in 2012 from hydrocephalus which went unnoticed by a locum optometrist, have embarked on a series of fundraising initiatives for charity in his memory.

Vinnie’s mother Jo Barker, said the charity Shine, which provides specialist support for individuals living with spina bifida or hydrocephalus and their families, was the source of much support in the period after his death.

‘Shine helped us not only understand Vinnie’s condition but opened our eyes to a world where their support enables those living with spina bifida or hydrocephalus get the best out of life,’ she said.