Leonie, a beautiful, intelligent, comical almost 12 year old girl from Louth in Lincolnshire, with an infectious laugh and a smile so wide it will melt hearts, was born 11 weeks prematurely. Leonie's story and the mission of #Teamleonie started in 2018.

A year after Leonie's birth, doctors diagnosed her with Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy, the most advanced of all CP diagnoses. Sadly, many medical expenses for her condition are not funded by the NHS. Leonie's only mobility as a baby, toddler & young child was to move on her back by using her head. #TeamLeonie was born in 2018 to start fundraising for life changing spinal surgery to help Leonie walk one day. In February 2019, Leonie underwent a procedure called a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), a minimally invasive spinal operation that can permanently reduce leg spasticity and eventually help with independent walking in children with CP. Fundraising paid for the surgery, needed medical equipment and ongoing, weekly physical therapy sessions.

In July 2021, a surgery delayed 18 months due to Covid, Leonie underwent femur osteotomies, knee realignment and hamstring surgery. For the first time ever, her twisted, frogged legs became straight legs, or 'new legs' as Leonie calls them. The NHS paid for the extensive surgeries, but not all needed medical equipment and no ongoing, critical physical therapy yet again. This will be ongoing for many years.

Today, Leonie can pull herself up from a therapy bench using parallel bars, sit upright, ride a specialised three wheel bicycle. She still cannot stand unaided or walk, but Team Leonie supporters are tirelessly determined to ensure that miracle happens one day. In 2024, Leonie will undergo an extensive muscle transfer operation on her left foot to provide straightening and help with gait stability.

We are also now raising funds to buy a WAV (wheelchair-accessible vehicle ) so Leonie can travel in it safely in her electric or manual chair, as she is non-mobile and it's extremely hard to lift her now she's older.

Please consider joining the #TeamLeonie on Facebook and Twitter

Any donation will be extremely appreciated. Thank you.

Info for donors