Thanks for taking the time to visit this JustGiving page which supports Footsteps.

Footsteps is a very small and unique rehabilitation centre that specialises in helping children with neurological challenges to become mobile. It was set up by a very determined mother who refused to accept the medical prognosis that her daughter, born with cerebal palsy, would never walk.

She discovered a Polish rehabilitation programme that offered some hope and spent the next two years taking her daughter to Poland for regular treatment. She was so motivated by the positive impact upon her daughter (now able to walk independently), that she decided to set up a therapy centre in the UK. In the last 8 years, it has slowly expanded its size and repeatedly demonstrates that its approach can make a very real difference.  I would urge you to have a quick look at its website.   www.footsteps.ltd.uk

The reason that we have an interest in supporting the charity, is that Barney (5) has been accepted onto the programme a number of months ago. Barney contracted Encephalitis when 9 months old,  and the ensuring neurological damage affected Barney in many ways, both physically and mentally.

With the help of intensive therapy, he has made a great recovery (surprising his consultants), started mainstream school last month and is thoroughly enjoying it. Barney’s biggest two remaining challenges are speech and mobility. He has built up a repertoire of about  300 different hand signs to counter his lack of speech, but as far as mobility is concerned, whilst he is now able to crawl, he is still unable to stand or walk unaided, but tries hard. His induction to Footsteps went very well, and we have our fingers crossed that the treatment over the next few years will make a real difference in the long term.

Barney is typical of children in similar circumstances, who continue to prove that given the right type of therapy along with a determined approach, are able to excel in areas simply not expected of them.

Thank you for any help you are able to give.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.