LILY’S HUGE FEAT
Joy as cerebral palsy girl, 7, finishes charity trek
BRAVE Lily Blackburn has completed her 15km charity trek – after winning support from a host of celebs.
Stars including Harry Redknapp and James Corden backed the determined cerebral palsy sufferer, seven, after learning of her plans to cover the distance on foot.
Doctors warned she might never walk unaided when she was diagnosed aged two and she went on to endure years of painful muscle cramps.
But yesterday she defied expectations by finishing the impressive feat using aids – to deafening cheers at the finish line.
Proud dad Adam, 36, said: “She’s done it, it’s the most amazing thing. She’s tired but she’s also high on adrenaline. All her friends came to see her do it and all the family were here too.
“She’s over the moon, all the support was fantastic. When she crossed the finish line it was such an amazing moment for all of us, we couldn’t stop smiling.”
Lily also smashed her fundraising target with donations so far at £35,000. Adam said: “People have been so generous, there’s the online pledges and we must have another £1,000 in buckets from the walk.”
Mum Kelly Arnold, 36, said: “The support Lily has had is incredible.
“She couldn’t believe it when Harry and the rest got in touch.
“People have been truly blown away by her determination. She’s unstoppable.” Lily, who is also autistic, has been juggling 8km training walks using her aids with starting Year 3 at school.
She planned to take on the challenge on her eighth birthday next weekend but it was brought forward after changes to Covid-19 rules.
Kelly, who runs a scaffolding firm with Adam, went on: “Her friends and family wanted to cheer her on.”
The People backed Lily after she vowed to raise £24,700 for Essexbased Haven House Children’s Hospice. We told how she was inspired by five-year-old double amputee Tony Hudgell, who raised £ 1million with his own walking challenge.
Gavin and Stacey star James Corden’s production firm donated £1,500 to her fundraising page. A message reads: “May you surpass all targets you set in life.” Footie boss Harry described Lily’s feat as “fantastic,”, adding: “We know you can do it.”
Lily, of Waltham Abbey, Essex, also met TV stars Billie Faiers, 30, and Greg Shepherd, 35, near their home i n Brentwood, Essex, this week after impressing them. She and sisters Lola, four, and Lacey, six, spent two hours playing in a park with their kids Nellie, six, and Arthur Shepherd, three.
Lily said: “It was amazing, it felt like my dreams came true.”
Haven House’s fundraising chief Pushpinder Gill said: “Lily’s courage is so inspiring.” One in every 400 UK babies are born with cerebral palsy. You can donate at justgiving.com/fundraising/lilys-big-walk
SUPPORT: Footie icon Harry and with inspirational pal Tony