my name is Debbi, i am overweight, and need to lose the pounds (stone!), why not sponsor me to to lose the weight i need to? i hope to lose around 2 stone, i will update with how much i have lost (or gained) each week 

my friend Polly at Footsteps came up with the great idea of a few of us losing weight to raise money, many of us mums need to stay fit and healthy to care for our kids, so we already have a great incentive, but why not raise a few pennies in the mean time please take a moment to read her amazing story below, the article below is Annie's press release (tweaked a bit for Just Giving!).

.Annie Barnett was born 11 days late and after a long and traumatic labour in which she suffered fetal distress and a dramatic drop in heart rate. Doctors noticed her ears were a funny shape and she had mottled skin, which tests later showed was a result of a re-ordered Chromosome 10. Despite this she continued to develop normally until she suffered a stroke at 19 weeks. The stroke caused her brain damage, leaving the movement in her left side impaired. Two weeks later Annie contracted pneumococcal meningitis and was rushed into hospital where doctors released fluid from her brain. However her blood pressure dropped dramatically and doctors told parents, Debbi and Steve, that she would die. They arranged an emergency christening for Annie and prayed at her bedside.

 Annie made an incredible recovery and was able to go home to Buckinghamshire after spending five weeks at Great Ormond Street. She then began re-living many newborn developments following her stroke, including smiling for the first time.

 Just before Annie’s third birthday, her parents took her to the Footsteps Centre, where she began intensive physiotherapy to try and maximise her physical abilities. Before starting at Footsteps, Annie could not walk, could not sit up and was very stiff from not using her muscles.

 Now three years on, Annie can sit on a bench, can weight bear and even take steps with someone supporting her. Her increase in confidence has been Annie’s major achievement, as now she realises she can do things. Debbi explains: “I can see her walking independently in the future, she has the confidence and desire to do it. Footsteps has been incredible at teaching her to keep her balance sitting, then kneeling and now standing”. Annie and her parents hope to continue therapy at Footsteps for as long as funds allow. Debbicontinues: “When she was a baby back in the hospital, I couldn’t imagine her doing any of this, it’s amazing how much she has achieved.”