A team of 46 people from three Arthur J. Gallagher offices across South Wales are taking on the Welsh Three Peaks challenge on 6^th June with the aim of raising £9000 to help a brave little girl get life-transforming surgery in the US.

Six-year-old Cerys was born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and needs £60,000 for an operation which will dramatically increase her mobility and take away any pain she suffers. The AJG team from the Llantrisant, Talbot Green and Cardiff offices are looking to raising the final £9,000 this little girl needs.

A fantastic 35 people signed up to tackle all three mountains in one day who will all face a very early morning as they start climbing Snowdon at 4.30 am! They will then be driven to take on – probably the most challenging mountain of the three – Cadair Idris by the volunteer drivers who signed up to assist the climbers on the day. The team will then arrive at the bottom of the last mountain, Pen-y-Fan in the evening where they will be joined by 8 other climbers to finish the challenge.

Cerys and her family are raising funds through the Cymorth I Cerys appeal which is aided by Tree of Hope, which is a charity offering hope to the families of sick children in the UK who need specialist medical surgery, treatment, therapy and equipment in order to free them from suffering, giving a better quality to their young lives.

This is Cerys' story:

"Hi! I am Cerys and I am 6 years old. I was born 11 weeks premature and as a result have been diagnosed with quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. I am unable to roll over, sit up, stand or walk unaided so I am completely dependent on my wheelchair, parents, sister and friends.

Despite all of this I have a massive personality and a huge smile to match. I make friends with everyone I meet. I attend a mainstream school and I love every minute of it. It gives me lots of motivation to become more independent.

I would love nothing more than to be able to walk around the playground with my friends and play at home with my sister without having to rely on my supported seating and wheelchair. 

My parents are working tirelessly to fundraise  for me to have  an operation called SDR surgery, which is an operation on the nerve endings in the spine. This is a life changing operation. It will take away all the nasty spasticity in my legs and will take away the pain I suffer mainly at night through spasms.  With the spasticity removed I will be able to learn to use my limbs more naturally therefore I will be able to learn how to sit up properly, maybe crawl around on the floor and play with my sister or maybe even to walk with sticks which means I can play with my friends. I have been assessed in the UK for this operation but have been refused. My only option now is to go to the amazing Dr Parks at St Louis Hospital in the USA to get the help I need. 

I know how much hard work is in front of me and I am more than prepared for that. I will require intensive physio and strengthening therapy pre op and for approx 3-5 years post op if I am to achieve my full potential. This therapy will need to be self funded also as there is no where near enough available on the NHS.

I have proved doctors wrong in the past with my abilities and I am not about to stop now. I promise to repay your support with dedication and hard work."