Mikayla Butler
Super Ben's 5k Walk
Fundraising for Tree of Hope
Story
We're fundraising for a little boy named Ben. He is 5 years old and due to complications during his mother's pregnancy Ben has cerebral palsy. This condition causes tightness and spasticity in both arms and legs. Sitting unaided is difficult, commando crawling is done with maximum help & walking is something Ben would just love to be able to do unaided but can't. He needs physio daily, to be put in equipment such as wheelchairs & standing frames to avoid him forming deformities as he's growing & needs help with feeding, drinking & all other daily tasks we all take for granted.
We have been fundraising since January 2014 for any physiotherapy, equipment & for Ben to be able to have an operation. SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) will remove the spasticity in Ben's legs, therefore removing all the pain & enabling Ben to use his "normal" muscles. The operation is in St Louis, Missouri, America & for the life-changing operation and just 1 year essential post-op therapy we needed to raise a HUGE £60k!!!! We are so grateful to have raised our target so that we are able to take Ben for this life changing operation!! Soon we will have an operation date!
Post op Ben needs essential intense physiotherapy to get the maximum benefit from the operation. The £60k target covers the surgery & 1 year. Through meeting other parents who have been through this i have learned that post op therapy costs on average £10-£15k a year!!! So to hit £80k raised in total before we head off to America would cover Ben for 3 years & really give him a great head start post-op! This would give Ben the opportunity to get the most out of this operation!
Ben has had intensive physiotherapy courses at a centre in Oxford in the past. He has therapy 2 hours a day, for 3 weeks, with highly trained therapists using equipment they don't have any where else in England. We aim to take Ben there 3-4 times a year but at £1500 a session it means we need to fundraise to continue to take him. We're booked in 4 sessions in 2015 as he'll need it post op. He also has weekly sessions with a private therapist.
Ben is such a determined, fun and happy boy but his physical restrictions are extremely frustrating for him. His mind is so willing but his body just won’t let him do what he wants to. We would like to do everything we can to help him overcome these challenges and live his life as full and as pain free as possible!
We are raising money for Tree of Hope to help fund this ongoing treatment and any donationswould be greatly appreciated!
Without ongoing treatment like this Ben will fall behind. But again, this therapy doesn't come cheap.
Since starting this extra work with Ben he has rocketed with improvement. His strength has improved and he is more stable and aware.
Ben's main just giving page (www.justgiving.com/PleaseSupportBen) is where we have raised enough to cover his surgery and 1 year post op therapy. This event and just giving page has the target of £500....this will pay 10 private therapy sessions post op!
So, please, please support Tree of Hope to help Ben have the treatment he so badly needs.
Would be willing to help us in our journey to change Ben's life? By donating safely on this website, being sponsored to do something, organise an event-pub event, cake sale, party, football match, golf day, etc, donating a service or prize to be auctioned off or used as a prize at one of our events...any help will be hugely appreciated!!!!
Please please please keep Ben in mind-you'd be changing his life!
For more information on Ben please visit his facebook page: Ben's Therapy Fundraising" or by clicking on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bens-Therapy-Fundraising/200857373319514?ref=ts&fref=ts or follow him on Twitter: @BensFundraising
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Thank you
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