Hello

We're Emma and Jennie, two (ahem!) 50-something women more likely to be seen with a cocktail in hand than trekking mountains at sunrise!

However, in 2020, Emma's daughter Louisa began experiencing a variety of symptoms linked to Spina Bifida Occulta.

Louisa, had shown no issues from being born with two holes in her lower back, whilst deep they were both closed at the base - indicating Spina Bifida Occulta. This is the most common and mildest form of spina bifida, and many people never have any symptoms; for Louisa, this wasn't to be the case.

As an active 13 year old, captain of her football team, keen hockey player and swimmer the sudden and progressive changes in her legs and back were a lot to face especially as we all began the strangest time of COVID 19 lockdowns.

In December 2021 Louisa under went a 9 hour operation to de-tether her spinal cord. Over the next 18 months, she under went a further 4 operations, with her final op being in August 2023 to remove part of her scull to relieve the symptoms caused by a Chiari Malformation.

Jennie (a hairdresser) donated her time to shave Louisa's head ahead of this final op to enable Louisa to donate some of her hair to the Little Princess Trust, who create wigs for children. (pictures in the gallery)

During this time, we had support from the charity SHINE, and without their support and understanding, we would not have been able to navigate the last four years with Louisa.

Shine provides specialist support from before birth and throughout the life of anyone living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, as well as to parents, families, carers and professional care staff. Shine enables people to get the best out of life.

Everything they do is made possible by generous supporters. So we're fundraising to enable them to contiune to help individuals and families in our local communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Every donation has the potential for a profound impact.

Louisa turned 17 in Feb; she is making amazing progress; she started a football academy in September, just four weeks after her final op and has gone from strength to strength.

If Louisa can tackle all this and keep going... we can put our cocktail glasses to one side for a few hours and take on the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Sunrise Challenge 2024 in MAY!

We'd appreciate any support you can provide us for SHINE.