Some of you might know why Cerebral Palsy is a disability close to my heart. Some of you might not.

As a young child I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy Mild left Hemiplegia. As you can imagine that has thrown some challenges my way. Some that I’ve fought to over come, through physio, being a stubborn mare or learning new ways to just do.

Some things I gave up pretty early on, it was pretty obvious after a few months thay playing the violin was not the kind of physio I wanted to do, football and sport however was something I was good at, something I enjoyed and with the help of my physio, Bobby, I was walking up and downstairs properly and spending hours playing football. Something I still do to this day.

Even still, with all of that My challenges range from buttoning up shirts, tying my shoe laces, peeling potatoes to name a few, and they’re never going to go away, I’m 33, I’ve lived with this as long as I can remember, I’ve found ways that work for me, and ways that have meant not many people know or see my struggles.

Injuring my right arm last year as annoying as ot was meant I started to look at my cp differently, I’m not getting any younger, I need to make sure I’m working on my left side whilst I can. Before I become too weak to do anything with either arm. So I’m back in a physio room for my CP, I’m back with an OT and my physio is no longer early Saturday morning swimming or hurting everyone’s ears with a violin. It’s balancing on one leg while I make a cup of tea, it’s teaching and grabbing with my left hand or blow drying my hair with two hands rather than one.

So with all of this at the front of my mind right now, it seems the right time to raise money for others to be able to access sport, enjoy sport, and find a passion for something just as I did. I hate running, I find it boring but I’m going to make myself, with the help of my amazing friends Mhairi and Ellen, run a minimum of 31 miles in March to raise money for cerebral palsy sport

Cerebral Palsy Sport has a vision that everyone with cerebral palsy is able to access & enjoy being physically active throughout their lives.

Our mission is to influence the sport sector, wider society & collaborate with partners so that every person with cerebral palsy has the opportunity & choice to enjoy being physically active.

Thank you.

Emily.

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