Your help needed for Elsie’s journey to walk

CM is asking readers for their support with raising funds to help a severely disabled little girl get the medical attention she needs to be able to walk. Elsie-mae Barker is the daughter of Jason Barker and Cerys Carter. Jason is a business development rep with Automotive Brands, which encompasses such familiar brands as Cataclean, Power Maxed, Motul and Araldite.

Elsie was born in November 2016 and suffers from Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy, which affects her ability to walk and even sit unaided. The only hope for Elsie to ever be able to walk is a procedure to surgically reduce muscle stiffness called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, which involves opening the spinal canal in the upper lumbar region so that up to 75% of the sensory nerve roots can be divided to reduce spasticity.

This procedure is not available on the NHS, with even private health care organisations in the UK only agreeing to operate on less severely affected sufferers of Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy classified as Gates 1-3. Unfortunately, Elsie-mae’s disability is classed as Gate 4, meaning the only option for her to undergo this life-changing operation is to travel to St Louis Hospital, Missouri in the United States, where the operation will cost £60,000.

Elsie’s mum and dad have been holding a number of special events to raise funds for the operation, including charity football matches, horse shows and even a sponsored skydive.

Anyone who would like to help can donate on Elsie’s Justgiving page at https://just4children.org/children-helped2018/elsies-journey-to-walk/ or get in touch via Automotive Brands on 01789 330668. All donations, advice and general assistance will greatly appreciated from all at Automotive Brands and Car Mechanics.