Brave hospital pals tackle charity walk
TWO brave best friends who have endured a lifetime of hospital treatment are raising money to say thank you for their care.
Megan Colclough and Ellie Stott, both aged seven and both from Rochdale, are taking part in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital’s first ever ‘Lantern Walk’ in Heaton Park next weekend.
The pals, who go to St Mary’s primary in Balderstone, have been patients at the hospital for most of their short lives.
When Megan, from Balderstone, was just two weeks old, she was rushed to hospital following a bout of severe sickness.
Her doctor noticed some abnormality regarding the shape of her skull, and sent her for further tests. Megan was diagnosed with dysplastic corpus callosum, a condition which meant that part of the right side of her brain had not developed how it should, and her parents Claire and David were confronted with the devastating news that she may never walk.
But remarkably Megan overcame the odds and although she does have limited mobility, and suffers from epilepsy and problems with her grip and her balance as part of her condition, she amazed her parents at just two years old by taking her first steps.
Megan will be taking part in the walk in her wheelchair, as the 2km distance is a little far for her to walk, but her best friend Ellie will be joining her on the route and helping to push her around.
Ellie, from Kirkholt, was diagnosed with generalised joint hypermobility syndrome when she was just three, which means that she suffers from chronic pain, swelling and fatigue, problems with her balance, and digestive problems.
But despite her pain, determined Ellie was eager to take part in the walk and suggested that Megan join in.
Her mum Joanne said: “Her condition affects her emotionally but despite all of this, Ellie never lets it bother her, and she achieves the best she can in whatever she does or takes part in. I told Ellie about the walk and she was really keen on joining in. She said she wanted Megan to do it with her. I did say it might be too far for Megan to walk but she said it was OK, she had a wheelchair and she would push her around.”
The two girls share a special bond - Ellie has even received certificates for the help that she gives Megan at school with things like getting changed or pushing her chair.
And the Lantern Walk won’t be the first time that the girls have fundraised for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. In the past, they have both raised hundreds of pounds by taking part in the charity’s sponsored ‘Be Seen in Green Day!’.
The girls will be joined on the walk by their mums and Ellie’s sister Jodie, and will be cheered on by Megan’s dad and four year old twin sisters Jessica and Katie, and Ellie’s dad Antony and brother Charlie.
Angela Rowe, community fundraising manager at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Megan and Ellie for saying thank you to our hospital in this special way and taking part in our brand new Lantern Walk. We can’t wait to see hundreds of fundraisers at Heaton Park, helping us to raise funds for the poorly children treated at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.”
The walk will take place on Sunday, October 15, at Heaton Park.
For more details visit rmchcharity.org.uk/lantern.