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Ian Jacobs raised £1,280 from 43 supporters
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Closed 31/10/2019
Weʼve raised £1,280 to provide physiotherapy at the Mexican charity Pasitos de Luz for children with disabilities from low income families.
- Ascot
- Funded on Thursday, 31st October 2019
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Story
"I pray that one day she will be able to run into my arms"
These are the heartfelt words of Laura, a young mother who lives in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Laura's daughter, Laurita, was born with blindness, microcephaly and motor impairment. Laurita and her mother were abandoned by her father. A local chairty Pasitos de Luz came to the rescue. At Pasitos Laurita receives free day care, nutritious meals and therapy. As her mother says:
Laurita is now able to move her legs, neck and arms. The biggest thing for me is that she is now smiling, which is such a gift for any parent.
In 2018 Chris Jacobs moved to Mexico to help Pasitos de Luz and children such as Laurita. Chris and his family aim to raise £5,000 to increase the number of children like Laurita who can receive life-changing therapy. By raising £5,000, we will be able to pay an entire year's wages for two trained Mexican physiotherapists.
Pasitos de Luz means 'little steps of light' in Spanish and is a daycare and rehabilitation centre that supports over 130 local families who have a child or children with disabilities. All of these families have very low incomes and are not charged a single penny to have their children cared for at Pasitos de Luz. That's why donations are SO important.
Take a tour of Pasitos de Luz here, with Chris's commentary
The therapy provided by Pasitos can improve the lives of vulnerable children in extraordinary ways. Eliseo is one of the therapists. He was born blind and gives the children in his care the love and support that he never had as a child. One child whom he cares for is Alexis, born without eyes and, when he arrived at Pasitos, unable to walk. Eliseo is helping Alexis to walk and to move safely around a world he can never see.
![](https://images.justgiving.com/image/a7e10da2-3a7f-4cbe-89a0-5039c0570cec.jpg?template=CrowdfundingStoryImage)
Eliseo's philosophy is:
What counts is each person's mind and personality, not their disability. If you cannot understand that, then you are blind even though your eyes can see.
Many more children in and around Puerto Vallarta need appropriate education and therapy. The waiting list for Pasitos is longer than the list of children currently supported. The need is HUGE. Please help us to improve their lives and make them all smile like these children whom we saw on Mexico's children's day in April 2018.
![](https://images.justgiving.com/image/550b55d6-8bb8-4d88-9112-3a1017d5b742.jpg?template=CrowdfundingStoryImage)
It costs surprisingly little (£19 a day) to provide a day's care for a Pasitos child, which includes all therapies, personal care, meals, transport, staff wages, special education and much more. Your donation really can start to change the life of a boy or girl and to help them smile.
![](https://images.justgiving.com/image/1750a15b-4d2f-4713-8ea9-a3885848b0eb.jpg?template=CrowdfundingStoryImage)
![](https://images.justgiving.com/image/d3cfaf4b-d484-4727-a749-9e0d63234603.jpg?template=CrowdfundingStoryImage)
Updates
17
5 years ago
Ian Jacobs
5 years agoA nutritious breakfast and lunch is part of every child's day at Pasitos. Norma, who manages the kitchen, brought her son Toni to Pasitos over 16 years ago seeking help for his disabilities. Toni had the honour of laying the first brick of Pasitos' new home, but alas he died in 2018 of complications from his condition. Nevertheless, Norma carries on serving delicious meals. When she started at Pasitos the charity operated in one room in a small house. Now she serves 150 meals a day. Norma is second left in the photo of the kitchen team.
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5 years ago
Ian Jacobs
5 years agoOn 26 and 27 June Ian is bringing a taste of Mexico to Sunninghill where he lives. He will deliver Mexican dinners to his neighbours who have made generous donations in return. The menu includes chicken in mole poblano (a chile, sesame and chocolate sauce - see picture), chicken in adobo (a vinegar and chile sauce), ceviche (pickled fish), courgetes, beans, and mangos in cinnamon syrup.
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5 years ago
Ian Jacobs
5 years agoIn 2018 Pasitos gave children over 9,000 therapy sessions. Kristian, the music therapist, works with Richie, who has cerebral palsy. Richie loves percussion. This helps Richie’s hand-eye coordination and makes him smile. Belén gives Richie physiotherapy. With her help, Richie can now sit without support. Her reward is to see Richie's excellent progress. Your donation will enable Pasitos to help more children like Richie improve and smile.
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Ian Jacobs started crowdfunding
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Supporters
43
Margaret Brazier
May 26, 2019
Great work
£50.00
Anonymous
Mar 26, 2019
An excellent cause--well done Ian and Chris
Naoko Goldberg
Mar 22, 2019
What a wonderful cause!
£20.00
Geoff Todd
Mar 20, 2019
Great work
£50.00
Jayne Bartholomew
Mar 7, 2019
Chris is doing inspirational work
£20.00
A Daghestani
Feb 23, 2019
£10.00
Dave
Feb 20, 2019
good work Chris!
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Ian Jacobs
Ascot
Ian and Chris Jacobs know Mexico well. Ian first went there in 1972 and has written books on Mexican history. Chris volunteered at Pasitos in 2013. He emigrated to work there full-time in 2018. We know that Pasitos changes the lives of vulnerable children and their families.