Dressed to impress
THE father of a young girl battling a debilitating condition says the reaction to a video of his daughter has been amazing.
The video shows Amelia-rose, who struggles to walk, joining her mum Tanya Walton to finish a fun run.
Father Ben Walton, from Cheltenham, says the reaction online has been “amazing” and has “restored faith in humanity.”
He said: “She really wanted to finish it with her mum and was so determined.”
The family is trying to raise £100,000 for potentially life-changing surgery in the United States.
They are taking part in numerous sponsored races and walks to raise funds.
When the Echo first reported on Amelia-rose’s fight in February, the family received an anonymous donation of £5,000.
Then it was believed she had a rare form of cerebral palsy, meaning her ability to walk was severely limited.
But the family has received a new diagnosis that Amelia-rose has a
genetic disease called hereditary spastic paraplegia, which means having the surgery in the US is the only option the family have.
Ben is optimistic about the future, saying: “We’re all guns blazing from here.
“Amelia is just brilliant and really optimistic.
“She’s already set a goal to be able to walk her sister to school when she starts next September.”
Ben is training to take part in several walks, planning to walk and run 400km in four months to raise money, including a walk from London to Brighton on May 25.
Ben said: “The way I see it is that I’m blessed with legs that can walk without help, so it’s all I can do to help Amelia walk as well.”
Ben says that “the reaction and generosity has been unbelievable, but we’re not stopping any time soon.
“The focus now is getting Amelia the surgery she needs.”
» You can donate to the fund at justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/ just4children/ameliarosewantstowalk.
And watch the video at gloucestershirelive.co.uk. jessica.mercer@reachplc.com