Friday November 25th 2011

Dear all,

Yes-I did it!!

Last Friday was a fantastic day for the walk-dry and sunny-and some of my friends came up to the park with me in their wheelchairs to cheer me on. In fact I insisted on going round the park twice so was very, very tired on the final home stretch and collected a huge blister on my foot so have spent this last week recovering from very stiff muscles, a sore foot  and enjoying the additional pampering.  

Crossing the finishing line was just fabulous-everyone was outside cheering and they had rigged up an archway of balloons and a finishing ribbon for me!

After a rest and lunch I went round school with Michelle(my wonderful PA) and  we collected another £100, and then at the weekend mum and dad came down, and the hotel we were staying in got to hear about it and they raised another £75!

I am abolutely amazed at the amount that has been donated. It is very humbling to think so many people sponsored me and I am just so glad I did not let anyone down!

Everybody has been so kind and generous-especially when you think my initial target was £500 and you have all well and truly smashed that!

With Gift Aid you have donated  over £2,000 which is just  incredible

So thank you all very much indeed-not only do we have £1000 to go to Children In Need which is in itself a hugely worthwhile charity, but we also can give £1,000 to the DHR Dreams and Aspirations  fund and soon now, thanks to you,   those dreams I told you about below will come true-and possibly a few more as well!

Finally thanks to all the helpers at DHR who actually made this possible-arranging and measuring the route, organising my hero's welcome back, helping me train to build up my muscles and stamina, walking with me and looking after me during the walk etc  

And next year?? Well perhaps I will try to cycle a few miles-if only to see Dave Hodges (he's the boss at DHR who walked with me with Michelle -see photos)  on a bike!!

Just Giving keep my page open for a few weeks yet, so if you wnated to sponsor me but could not get round to it in  time, you can still do so if you wish

Thankyou, all of you,  again SO much

Love sarah xx

 

Monday Nov 14th 2011

Hello, my name is Sarah-thanks for taking the time to visit my Just Giving page. My dad has helped me set this up, as it would be too difficult for me.

I am a student at Dame Hannah Rogers (DHR) and I live here most of the time with friends in one of the bungalows DHR has specially adapted for young adults  like us so we can learn to be  as independent as possible yet have all the support we need.

I have Ohtahara syndrome, and the Doctors said I would never be able to walk or talk and would die when I was little, like everyone else who has had this syndrome. Well, little did they know! With the therapy, teaching, help and support of DHR I can now walk a little and enjoy a really good life.

Me and my friends decided this year we wanted to do something to help others worse off than us, so we are trying to raise funds for Children In Need and also the DHR Dreams and Aspirations fund which makes it possible for severely handicapped young people to experience their dream.

I was lucky, one  chap cycled from London to Paris, and two chaps ran marathons  to raise funds to equip new bungalows for us to live in, and  to make my dream of going to Disneyland Paris come true (see my photos!!) so I have had my dream, and now it is my turn to help make things come true for others and help  other Children in Need.

Tom wants to drive in a racing car, Andrew wants to go on a motor bike, Abi wants to go on the London Eye-simple things for you but very hard to arrange for them due to their handicaps, BUT with your help we can contribute to Children In Need and make their dreams come true.

So where I need your help please, is to sponsor me as I am going to do a sponsored walk here in Ivybridge on Friday Nov 18th and will split everything I raise between Children in Need and making Dreams come true for youngsters with serious handicaps.  James at DHR (he is the Finance controller who will receive money I raise from Just Giving) will ensure 50% of everything I raise is sent on to Children In Need

I am an almost full time wheelchair user, but can take a few steps-so I have set myself the challenge next Friday of walking just over a mile round the park-ok not far I know, but I tell you, for me this will be like a marathon as I also plan to do it totally UNAIDED!

OK so the powers that be at DHR say I have to have two people walk alongside with me, one each side in case I fall (health and safety you know what it is like!!) plus a nurse in case I fit but I promise they will not help me unless I look like falling.

SO, PLEASE WILL YOU HELP ME TO HELP OTHERS?

SPONSOR ME NOW AND BETWEEN US WE CAN HELP CHILDREN IN NEED AND MAKE A COUPLE OF DREAMS COME TRUE

THANKYOU EVERYBODY

LOVE Sarah xx

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.