At this time of year we usually see hundreds of people gathering to take part in the Rainbow Ramble. Given the situation Rainbow Hub have had no option but to cancel this year's event. This has been devastating. Not only is the Ramble the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the children and the commitment of their supporters but it also raises a staggering £30,000 each year.This income has stopped overnight. So this year I am helping them to try something different...I am making a donation and entering their virtual Rainbow Ramble on Saturday 9th May 2020. Please sponsor me and help Rainbow Hub through these difficult times.

Hi

This year I am going to take part in the Rainbow House Ramble Superhero Challenge and try to kick a football 50 times over 5 days.  This doesn't seem much I know, but due to lockdown & consequently no therapy or medical support along with growing too fast!, I am struggling with painful hips and legs so any standing, walking is proving very difficult this year

So, please help me raise funds to support Rainbow Hub, as I really need them to be there when lockdown is over to help get me back to where I was last year, smashing my big walk target!

Many of you probably already know all about me, but for those of you who don't... a quick summary of my life:

When I was born, I wasn’t breathing etc and so I have HIE (Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy, or oxygen starvation to you and me) which caused quadriplegic mixed cerebral palsy (Grade 5 which is the worst), epilepsy, learning difficulties and I have to be fed through a tube straight into my stomach. The doctors warned Mum & Dad that it would be very unlikely that I’d ever talk, eat, sit or walk and that there was no cure.

I’ve also had 3 lots of emergency surgery on my bowels because I have rare Intestinal Malrotation & recurring adhesions – very scary and they make me very poorly.  I’ve also had my hips reconstructed, I’ve had one hand operated on (so far) to help it work a bit better and at some time I’ll need to get my dislocated elbow fixed 😉 I've lost count of how much surgery I've had!!!

But all this doesn’t stop me from wanting to do what my friends do and being a normal 14 year old.

Through all of this, the amazing Rainbow House has been there to help and support me, Mum and Dad.

We found Rainbow House and a therapy called Conductive Education when I was 2.

Since then, I’ve achieved so much more than I was supposed to.  With their help, I’ve learnt to drink and eat a little; to hold my head up (you wouldn’t believe just how heavy your head is when working against gravity!); to sit briefly on my own; and to take a few steps with help (which I love doing!) – things everyone takes for granted but are so hard when your body & muscles won’t do as they’re told.  I’m also doing really well at learning to communicate even though I can’t say many words, yet.

Over the last 14 years, I have continued to surprise my Mum & Dad, Doctors and my physios by what I have achieved …. Things I  wasn’t supposed to have been able to with my severe cerebral palsy & various medical ‘issues’!

To add to learning to pedal my trike on my own (which totally amazed my neurologist Dr!) and my surfing, I’m learning to ski which I am getting really good at! I love being active and hate sitting around!  I also love music and strumming on my guitar.  Mum & Dad are great at helping me but I would love to be able to do more things for myself, just like my friends can, especially now I'm a teenager. 

I work really hard during my classes at Rainbow House (as well as being a little bit mischievous😉 ) and absolutely love going there.  Life really wouldn’t be the same without their help.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story ....

Please dig deep and support me so that I can continue my hard work – my future will not be the same without Rainbow House

                      Your Gift really will last me a lifetime

Thank you,

             Alex    (with the help of Mum)