Just4Children are fundraising to support Haydn to receive specialist therapies and treatments to give him the best quality of life.

“Girls on the Run”

Haydn’s big sister Jessica, and two of her good friends Florie and Poppy wanted to do something to raise funds for Haydn and here’s why …

Haydn was born 3 months premature and as a result of a bleed on the brain, Haydn has Cerebral Palsy - a developmental disorder caused by the damage to the brain. This affects the body’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.

The CP does cause Haydn many problems that make day to day life challenging for him. He struggles with the physical challenges but also the emotional ones too - not always being able to keep up with his sister and friends and do what they do. Whilst Haydn can walk independently, high muscle tone in his legs makes it difficult and tiring.

On Friday 2nd June 2023, Haydn had an operation called SDR. SDR is surgery performed on the lower spinal cord, where they carefully cut the nerve rootlets that are sending abnormal signals from the brain to the muscles. He is currently part way through his 3 week rehabilitation at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The operation is just the start and is by no means a miracle cure. To gain the most from the surgery, Haydn will require 2 years of intensive post op therapy. I currently provide home physio twice a day (every day), he attends horse riding for the disabled (RDA), has weekly private PT sessions, osteopath and ad hoc private physio sessions but as with everything, it all comes at a cost. There are many more options out there, both therapy based as well as equipment that would benefit Haydn at this pivotal time. This operation has the potential to be life changing and we want to ensure that it is, by supporting him in the very best way we can. This will give Haydn the best possible results and opportunity for his future independence.

We are currently trying to raise £30,000 for the post op therapy and equipment. With everyone’s incredibly kind generosity, so far, we have raised 80% of our target amount, which is simply amazing.

And this is where the girls come in … They found an event called the “Inflatable 5k” - the world’s largest (and by all accounts, best!) inflatable 5k obstacle course. They are taking part in the event running in St Albans on Saturday 17th June.

This is going to be no mean feat and I am so proud and touched that they wanted to do something to help our son.

Any donation, big or small that helps them to meet their target would mean the world.

Thank you