Stephen Keith
100k Cycle Challenge
Fundraising for St. James's Place Charitable Foundation
Story
The Big Day has been and gone, we both managed to get round the 100k course in just over 5 hours. It was a perfect day from a weather perspective but the last 20k were certainly the most painful, everybodies generous donations definately motivated us to carry on to the finish. Thank you to everyone that has donated so far the whole family are extremely grateful. We are going to keep the site running for another two weeks for those that haven't had a chance to donate so please give generously if you can.
Maxwell Foley was diagnosed with Perthes in his left hip, at the age of 4. He had developed a limp, for no apparent reason, and after exertion complained of pain. After several trips to the GP, and a final visit to A&E, an X-ray showed an abnormality. From this point it all accelerated and we were seen by a top consultant. Max had an open wedge osteotomy, and was fitted into broomstick plaster for 8 weeks. He started his first school year in a wheelchair as he had just had his plaster removed.
We are now several months on and Max has had a further operation to remove the metal pins that were originally put in, and we are still having to restrain activities in terms of no running and jumping, easier said than done for a little boy who was very active before his diagnosis. He is still reliant on his wheelchair for day to day at school, in order to keep weight off his hip. This has changed all of our lives to the point of trying to maintain normality for his brother Ben, who is now 8, yet not putting temptation in front of Max making him want to run around. It has been hard as parents constantly having to tell Max not to do the things he naturally wants to. We have a long journey ahead and the Perthes Association www.perthes.org.uk have helped us personally with the loan of a larger buggy to aid our day to day lives, and also with the provision of information about this disease. In association with the SJP Foundation, Uncles Stephen and Gordon are taking part in a 100k bike ride in Manchester early in September. We are trying to raise sponsorship money so we can make a donation to thank them for their kind loan of the buggy and advice provided. Hopefully we will get enough funds to enable them to buy at least another buggy to help other families On behalf of all of us we are extremely grateful for whatever donation you can stretch to - wish us luck!!