A village community came together to raise money for two youngsters in need of medical help.
A VILLAGE community has pulled together to help two young Staffordshire Moorlands boys.
Beau Machin, six, and Leo Baileyheath, aged nine, need thousands of pounds to help with their recovery.
Beau and Seth Machin were born 14 weeks premature, and were not expected to survive. The boys each suffered a bleed on the brain and numerous other medical issues.
They pulled through and were able to go home after four months in hospital but while Seth has not had any lasting effects from arriving prematurely, Beau was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Now parents Georgina and Andy, from Cauldon, are hoping to raised £75,000 to allow Beau to have ‘lifechanging’ selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) in the U.S. and pay for his rehabilitation.
It is hoped the pioneering surgery in the US can ease the effects of his cerebral palsy. They have called their appeal Beau’s Boots are Made for Walking and donations can be made at justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/just4children/beausbootsaremadeforwalking.
Leo, who lives in Kingsley Holt, needs £35,000 to help with intensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy after undergoing an operation at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool.
Villagers in Foxt have raised funds to help the youngsters from their harvest festival, cheese and wine evening and a treasure hunt.
At a presentation event, the village hall donated £200 to each of the parents of the two boys, while the church donated £700 each.
A further £630 each was presented to the youngsters from a cheese and wine evening.
Meanwhile, Wilf Burt of Castellum at the Newcastle Masonic Lodge presented cheques valued at £1,150 to Leo. A further cheque for £220 was presented to Leo by the Newcastle Freemasons.
One of the organisers from the village, Geoff Bean, said: “These two young people need our support. Our community has got together with a brilliant effort.
“This is not the end and fundraising is still ongoing. The response from the community and Newcastle Freemasons has been brilliant.
“The cheese and wine evening was a great success with excellent support.
“We would like to thank everyone for their financial help and wish both boys all the best for the future.”
Chairman of Foxt Village Hall, Tony Holt said: “We are really pleased to be able to help these two young boys. We sold refreshments at the church flower festival to raise the money along with a treasure hunt.
“The community has responded to the appeal brilliantly.”
Beau’s mother, Georgina, said they had now raised more than £46,000 since February.
She said: “The response had been amazing. We have been blown away. People who do not know us have sent us money. Everyone has been so kind.
“We are hoping that Beau can have his operation in America next February. This is something we are aiming for.”
Leo’s mum, Emma Bailey, said that money was now needed for Leo’s physio and hydrotherapy.
She said: “Leo suffers from cerebral palsy.
“He has had an operation at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, but now funds are required for further intensive specialist treatment.
“People have been so generous and kind. When he can walk again, it will improve his life.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Leo can go to justgiving.com/fundraising/leobailey-heath.