Scores of local people converged on Highbridge’s Apex Park on Sunday (October 18th) to join a fundraising ‘Welly Walk’ for a brave youngster who has Cerebral Palsy and wants to walk.
Sunday’s sponsored ‘Welly Walk’ was well supported by friends, family and local followers of six-year-old Jessica Avery, pictured right.
Jessica arrived 11 weeks early and spent the first weeks of her life in special care and her parents were told that she was expected to be severely disabled and blind for the rest of her life.
But she’s beaten the odds and is not blind even though she suffers from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy which means her brain sends out incorrect messages to her nerves that control her muscles, making it difficult for her to move and walk.
Brave Jessica is receiving continued specialist physiotherapy and had a successful operation in America earlier this year. Her neurosurgeon believes that with the right physiotherapy and support, her dream of walking could one day come true.
“It was great to see a such a super turnout at Sunday’s welly walk and we are so grateful to everyone who is supporting Jessica,” one of the organisers told Burnham-On-Sea.com. “The walk went really well and was joined by local supporters of all ages.”
The funds raised will go towards helping brave Jessica with her physiotherapy and support. More details are available here.
Pictured: Sunday’s walk at Apex Park in Highbridge (photos Mo Hunt)
