Alex Macpherson BCyA
10k Two Ways for Rainbow Hub NW Ltd
Fundraising for Rainbow Hub NW Ltd
Story
Alex and Karen have challenged each other to do 10km in 2 different ways. Alex will do 10km cross country walks in his assisted wheelchair and Karen will attempt to climb Mt Toubkal (May 2023) and Kilimanjaro (September 2023) which have a combined height of 10km
ALEX : A different, bigger challenge for 2023 along with Mum’s friend Karen Guy….."10k2Ways". It will be a huge challenge for Karen dealing with the climbing as well as coping with the altitude! And it’s going to be a rough ride for me as I’ve not been properly off road before (I'll be sure to make Mum and Dad work hard too as they'll be assisting me!). Plus my painful hips and legs and worsening scoliosis will make this challenge very uncomfortable for me but I’m determined to match (or maybe even beat?) Karen’s challenge! After all, I do have a reputation to maintain - having won JustGiving's Young Fundraiser of the Year in 2019 & a GOLD Blue Peter badge and a British Citizen Youth Award in 2022 for my fundraising!!!
KAREN : I was at school with Alex's Mum and through her I have learnt a bit about the many challenges faced every day by young people like Alex. Rainbow Hub provides a unique therapy to help kids with neurological difficulties to perform everyday tasks which to most people are second nature, but to them represent a real challenge. I know, that in order to climb the highest mountains in Northern and Southern Africa, there will be times I need to dig deep into my mental and physical reserves. The young people Rainbow Hub support have to dig deep every day - and so do their families. Alex is an inspiration - please give what you can to help Rainbow Hub help him and others to live their best lives. Every penny donated will go straight to Rainbow Hub as the costs of the challenges have been met.
ALEX : Many of you probably already know all about me and why we're fundraising for Rainbow Hub, but for those of you who don't... a quick summary of my life :
When I was born, I wasn't breathing 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 with 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 now also added severe scoliosis to my list but thankfully I won’t be having surgery on that as it would be too risky! 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 17 year old.
Through all of this, the amazing Rainbow Hub has been there to help and support me, Mum and Dad.
We found Rainbow Hub 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 17 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 do 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 love skiing and am getting really good at it! I love being as active as I can 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.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story....
Please dig deep and support us so that I can continue my hard work – my life would not be the same without Rainbow Hub
Your Gift really will last me and my friends a lifetime
Thank you,
Alex (with Mum's help) & Karen
We are doing this to support Rainbow Hub. No other organisation offers such a diverse range of services aimed at improving the physical, social and emotional well-being of children with complex needs, as well as reducing the stress and isolation in their families. In a complete contrast to NHS services, our charity offers a picturesque country escape with a unique family first approach. Backed by a robust fundraising strategy, strong board of trustees and clear vision to brighten the lives of disabled children