One of my closest friends Marissa and her twin sister suffer from cerebral palsy due to premature birth. Marissa is studying travel and tourism and hoping for a career in the holiday industry in the hope of helping other people with disabilities.

Marissa until 6 years ago was able to walk with the aid of tripod sticks. However, this has deteriorated due to the NHS who failed to support her needs in providing orthotics and regular physiotherapy input she required after having her hamstrings and calf muscles lengthened in 2007.

Marissa must take daily medication to control the pain and spasticity in her legs. Her consultant advised she would benefit from a surgical procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy. SDR is a major operation on the base of the spine which will take away the spasticity allowing her to move easier and regain her independence back.

SDR costs a total of £45,000 which includes therapist input, pre-post-operative care and specialist equipment. The operation alone costs a total of £29,000. When Marissa started to raise money there was an incident where the money her family had been raising was stolen from a local pub.

I am going to be giving up my phone and all social media from Facebook to YouTube up for three weeks straight, from the 5th of July through to the 26th of July. If anyone wants to support me in helping Marissa in gain her dream of independence.