Tate’s Story ...

Tate who is one of six siblings was born in November 2006 without part of her left arm. We haven’t ever been given a conclusive medical reason for this. However, her Mum, Jools contracted viral meningitis whilst pregnant and her waters broke 8 weeks early without any contractions starting which lead her consultant to leave Tate in utero for a further 6 weeks until Tate arrived by emergency C-section. There has been views that amniotic bands were the most likely cause of the amputation of Tate’s arm whilst in utero as there were no anomalies present at the 20 week scan.

Tate’s early years at school have not been easy; Tate attended 3 primary schools having being severely bullied because of her disability. The bullying was persistent with both mental bullying and physical assaults. this eventually took its toll with Tate‘s well being and mental health affected.

Tate had become very insular and withdrawn and increasingly demonstrated a lack of self confidence and self esteem It seems her only escape from these feelings was through her love of sport. The change in Tate over the last 12 months is nothing short of remarkable her confidence is regaining and its like we have a different child.

Tate has her heart set on a Star Wars style BeBionic hand which works on the arm muscle pulses; Tate has already been tested as an ideal candidate for this. The hand will improve Tate’s quality of life with many day to day activities we take for granted. However due to the high price of prosthesis and yearly maintenance costs this is only a dream for her at the moment, we are now trying to fundraise as much money as possible to "Give Tate a Hand".

Over the last 12 months Tate has discovered she has quite a good ability for playing football and regularly plays for the Brighton & Hove Albion Disability football Squad and attends sessions in Crewe run by the England Amputee Football Association. Tate also plays football for a local girls team and her secondary school football team where she is the first girl to join the boys team! She now trains 5 times a week & is loving it!

Football is Tate's passion and Its somewhere where she can be herself without having to worry about any discrimination due to her disability. It has even been mentioned about the possibility of Tate playing for England one day!

Here’s a photo of Tate taking part in one of the England Amputee FA sessions...

Please help us to raise money to help us provide this bionic hand for Tate so she can have a normal life as possible, a childhood without discrimination and give her a chance to reach her full potential. We are trying to reach the target before Christmas so we can make her dreams come true.

Please donate whatever you can - every penny and pound matters and will help us towards reaching our goal to make Tate's quality of life better and #givetateahand

we are also holding various fundraising events for Tate’s cause if you would like to help or get involved please message us