17 of us crazy fools are about to risk life and limb by entering a Dragon Boat Race in the waters of Preston Docks.  Sheer grit, strength and determination runs through the veins of the whole team and we will row with all our might to be crowned Charity Champions.

Why are we putting ourselves through this?  Phoebe is the reason.  

Phoebe is almost 7 now and suffers from a rare neurological condition called Moebius Syndrome.  Phoebe's condition causes facial paralysis and low muscle tone.  That low muscle tone means that she cannot run as fast as her friends and struggles to access places where she can have fun safely.

The Space Centre has been a lifeline to Phoebe and her family.  It has provided her with a place where she can go with her friends and family and play like any other little girl.  Phoebe experienced a slide for the first time in Space and mastered climbing the stairs.  The Space Centre gives Phoebe the freedom to be a young girl having fun and is a place where it doesn't matter that she has disabilities.

Recently, Phoebe has had major surgery on her spine.  Space has helped her recovery as she has been able to use water beds and massage chairs to ease her pain.   

Although Space is great fun for kids like Phoebe it also huge therapeutic benefits too. Space is used by children and adults with physical, learning and emotional difficulties.  They help around 200 groups each month, offering 168 hourly sessions per week.  It is the only place like it and is the only place where those with disabilities can go where all their needs are met.  Many users experience new things for the first time, where else could a 47 year old man with additional needs safely go down a slide? Every day children and adults smile and laugh for the first time.and even talk for the first time...going down the slide being enough motivation for their first word to be "again". 

Phoebe's mum has asked us to take part in the Dragon Boat Race to raise money and give something back to The Space Centre.  They are working on making their gardens more accessible to those in wheelchairs and need to raise money to create new pathways and a sensory woodland walk.

So we will risk the (not looking too great) waters of Preston docks and row hard, trying or best not to tip over and trying our best to raise money for somewhere that is so close to the heart of a little girl that is very dear to us all.

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