Last updated at 16:14, Friday, 09 November 2012

A Cockermouth mother has launched a campaign to raise £40,000 for pioneering treatment that could help her disabled daughter.

FUND-TASTIC: Friends and family of Cockermouth School pupil Megan White, who was born with cerebral palsy, are raising funds to help pay for pioneering treatment. From left: mum Kerrie Iredale, Megan, 12, twin sister Leah, little sister Kara Beattie, five, and grandmother Peggy Bradshaw

If the treatment works, Kerrie Iredale, of Bellbrigg Lonning, hopes daughter Megan White will one day fulfil her dream of being able to ride a bike.

Megan was born 10 weeks premature and has cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia.

The Cockermouth School pupil’s condition means she has trouble walking and has poor co-ordination.

She uses a walking frame, stick or wheelchair to get around but would love a bicycle.

In 2008 she had an operation to straighten her right foot but the results were not what the family had expected.

Kerrie, 35, said Megan’s confidence took a turn for the worse and she took months to recover.

Now Kerrie wants to raise money so that Megan, who has a twin sister Leah, can have stem cell treatment only available in China, Germany or America, which has produced excellent results in treating cerebral palsy.

Kerrie and her mum Peggy Bradshaw, who run Jordan’s Jungle in Lorton Street, hope Megan will be able to ride a bike like Leah and younger sister Kara Beattie.

Kerrie said: “Megan means the world to me and riding a bike is something she has always wanted to do.

“We just want to give her that normal childhood.”

Kerrie was partly inspired to start fund-raising by her grandfather Peter Skillen, who died in July.

He left Peggy and Kerrie an inheritance which they have put towards Megan’s total.

Kerrie said: “My granddad adored Megan and would have loved to help her in any way possible. This was one of the inspirations behind Megan’s dream and the start to our fund-raising.”

Kerrie has been in touch with doctors in America and Germany who could carry out the treatment. It would cost about £40,000 for travel, treatment and after care.

The family has already raised £6,000.

Leah raised £180 by going around the estate asking for donations and five-year-old Kara, who attends All Saints Primary School, has written a letter asking for donations.

A leg waxing evening will be held at The Brown Cow on Main Street at the end of November and male volunteers are being sought to take part.

Wristbands are on sale in Jordan’s Jungle and a website will be launched soon where people can donate.

First published at 11:53, Friday, 09 November 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk