By Ellie Windle | Corporate Partnerships Manager
Thank you so much for your wonderful support of Sparks. Your kind donation has helped to fund innovative children’s medical research that can change the lives of many children, like nine year old Scarlett.
Scarlett's story
Scarlett and her twin sister Emily were born at 32 weeks after their mother Belinda developed twin-twin transfusion syndrome during her pregnancy. They weighed just over 3lb and spent 8 weeks in special care.
Scarlett’s development did not progress at the same rate as Emily’s and whilst Emily became more independent, Scarlett’s development remains at around toddler level. When Scarlett was one, Belinda had the official diagnosis of spastic bilateral cerebral palsy. She relies on a wheelchair or powered chair as, like many children with cerebral palsy, Scarlett has muscle weakness in her legs meaning that she is unable to walk or run independently.
Now aged nine, Scarlett recently took part in Sparks’ project that tested out specialist ‘Petra running-bikes’. These running-bikes have a unique design that allow children to stand and run around freely with the bike supporting their posture - helping to improve muscle and bone strength whilst also giving children who usually rely on a wheelchair the chance to enjoy running.
Belinda describes the joy the running-bikes have given Scarlett:
“The running-bikes are the only thing I’ve known Scarlett to enjoy because she has the freedom she can never normally have stuck in a chair. Scarlett has difficulty using a walker as she leans backwards and her foot gets stuck underneath it, but with the running-bikes she can lean forward and move her legs.”
“We’d love to see Scarlett have more opportunities to use the running-bikes. We always get involved with any medical research projects. If you don’t, things will never get any better”
“The running-bike is faster than a wheelchair and I can use my legs” explains Scarlett. “I run so fast. One time I ran down the corridor and my teacher couldn’t catch up!”
Thank you
A huge THANK YOU once again for helping to make possible vital research that will make a lasting difference to the health of babies, children and pregnant women.
Visit our website for more information about the incredible difference your support makes and the children and families who have benefitted. You can also find out about other ways you can get further involved to help fund even more pioneering research that will change the lives of children.
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