I dislike heights even more than I dislike salads and having to drink soft drinks in a pub BUT i'm going to take the plunge in September and jump out of a plane with The Red Devils. My aim is to raise £600 for Footsteps and any money over my target will go towards the incredible work of SpecialEffec

So why!!

Chloe is my fantastic 3 year old daughter, full of life and cheeky with it! As some of you might know Chloe has an undiagnosed neurological disorder that mean she can't currently stand or walk without support such as her favourite cow themed walker!

Chloe and my partner Alison (who they believe was misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy 30 years ago and who they think has the same condition as Chloe) are due for even more extensive tests at the national institute of neurology and neuro surgery over the next few months as well as having to go the length and breath of Britain to see other specialists.

After starting to lose interest in even trying to walk Chloe has been helped by an incredible small charity called the Footsteps Foundation. Chloe has been to four 3 week sessions so far and although this is not a miracle cure it has given her motivation and more confidence with even her nursery noticing the difference / improvement in her movements. We all can't wait to her next intensive 3 week session in October

There are thousands of children (like Chloe) with neurological disorders across the UK. They need intensive physiotherapy – something that the NHS is unable to provide. Imagine a child who is not able to walk – simply because they haven’t had the opportunity to learn how.

The Spider

The Spider is central to Footsteps therapy. Developed in Poland, the Spider enables therapists to carry out a full course of exercises in any chosen position. Elastic ropes are adjusted to exercise different parts of the patient’s body.

The equipment creates a unique ‘spider’s web’ which is different for each child and is continually changing throughout the therapy session depending on the exercises and the amount of support needed. The Spider increases independence and security, and therefore motivates even the most reluctant child, allowing them a totally new experience of movement and balance.

Therapy in the Spider helps particularly with movements such as supporting, reaching, grasping and holding. The child can achieve the correct body positions for crawling, sitting, kneeling, one-legged kneeling and standing, as well as maintaining and changing these positions independently. The Spider is loved by children as it gives them, for the first time, freedom to move on their own.

Footsteps also use traditional therapeutic equipment such as balls, rolls, trampolines, treadmills and ladders to facilitate therapy.

Footsteps Foundation provides financial assistance for children to take part in The Footsteps Centre’s innovative physiotherapy programme.

£40 will buy one footstep = one hour of intensive physiotherapy
£120 will pay for a day session
£600 will allow a child to enjoy a full week’s programme
£1,800 will cover a three week course
£7,200 will enable a child to complete the year

Their aim is to raise £500,000 and I would like to try and raise £600 to help children like Chloe.