On the 26^th September I have entered to undertake the toughest physical challenge I will ever have endured…. TOUGH MUDDER! That’s 12 miles/20km of mud and joyous obstacles, including submerging myself in ice water, electric shocks, army crawling through miles of mud and a lovely tunnel crawl through safe (apparently?!) tear gas substance.  Last years highlights on link below:

I will be joined by Morgan Burger and Stephen Pearce, with others possibly still to join! By doing this act of madness we are aiming to continue our previous fundraising and awareness efforts in aid of Special Sisters… please take the time to read their story below and support this wonderful cause in any way you can.

Imagine what it would feel like if your perfect baby failed to reach those all important developmental milestones we delight in seeing. Rolling over, holding toys, watching you and smiling, sitting up...

with 2 older girls I soon recognised my third child was very different and was very distressed as it became more and more apparent that her development was severely delayed.  Then her seizures started and I'd never experienced anything so terrifying or felt so helpless.  So imagine then, a fourth child who after many checks in pregnancy, appeared completely normal and my horror as I realised I was seeing another form of epilepsy in her, suddenly at just 4 months old.

This time an aggressive unrelenting type of epilepsy, that still causes hundreds of fits day and night. This is our reality, our day to day life and we would do anything to help our youngest girls get better.

So Isabelle and Siena are 2 of 4 Special Sisters! Isabelle is now 8 years old and Siena is just 2. They suffer from severe epilepsy caused by an as yet undiagnosed condition. 

http://www.treeofhope.org.uk/special-sisters/

We need to raise funds to get the girls to a specialist clinic in America which treats children with drug resistant epilepsy. Little Siena's epilepsy is very much worse than Isabelle's and she has tried 9 different anti-epileptic drugs to date and is on a special diet for her epilepsy too, sadly this doesn't seem to be helping her. 

As well as our aim to get the girls to the clinic, they both need constant therapy, to challenge their Global Developmental Delay and help them achieve their maximum potential. This therapy will include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy equipment.

Isabelle is learning to walk but cannot communicate, Siena cannot even sit up and is tube fed, so debilitating is her epilepsy. With consistent therapy input both girls can make progress and improve their quality of life, but with the incessant threat of severe epilepsy we are aware their lives are in danger everyday, as it continues to be uncontrolled.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

 The funds raised will go to the general funds of Tree of Hope to help other sick children if we exceed the target amount or if we do not raise enough funds, or if they cannot be used for any other reason.