Family hoping zumbas add up for vital £13k op
A‘ZUMBATHON’ is set to be held to help raise money for a young boy’s lifechanging surgery.
Instructor Rochdale Pilates and Yoga Studio Taira Booth is hosting the event on Friday, November 25 to raise money for her nephew Joseph, 12, who was born with his bowels outside his body.
After life-saving surgery aged six, Joseph had to be fed via a central line and began bowel reconstruction last November, which was unsuccessful.
Now, his family are trying to raise £13,000 to send him to Italy for specialist surgery in the hope of reconstructing his bowel to offer him a real option at a happy, fulfilled and independent future.
Taira said: “That’s what we’re fundraising for at the moment.
“We started a Go Fund Me page and just because I’m a local instructor we’ve done previous events for charities like cancer research.
“I’m just channelling the efforts towards Joseph now.
“Just come in and dance for a couple of hours. People may only stay an hour, some may stay for the whole thing.
“It’s just having a bit of fun really.
“I’m quite lucky that I do these kinds of things anyway but I can bring this one a little bit closer to home.”
Joseph’s mum and Taira’s sister Becky Jones, who lives in the Wirral, said the surgery is a chance for her son to live a long and happy life.
She said: “We’ve got a crack team of surgeons ready but we need to raise the money for the bed in the hospital and the care in the hospital. The surgeons have waived their fees for it.
“Joseph just wants to live his life without tubes and the aim of this surgery will be to relieve the pressure on his bowels and allow it to do its job on its own.
It’s hope for a long and happy life.
“It really is that big. “He’s a very humble child, he can’t quite believe that anyone has given money to his surgery, he’s in awe of it, as am I to be honest!”
An oncology nurse, Becky said she lived in Rochdale with sister Taira before moving to the Wirral 13 years ago.
“I’m a Manchester lass born and bred and the support we’ve had here, it’s been remarkable,” she said.
“We set up the Go Fund Me two and a half weeks ago and we’ve already raised £10,000. We’re hoping the Zumbathon will be like the last push towards the target.”
The Zumbathon takes place on Friday, November 25 at St George’s Church Hall on Bury Road between 6pm and 8pm.
To donate to the Go Fund Me, visit: www. gofundme.com/f/ josephs-bowel-reconstruction?