Hi, my name is Lou and I am fundraising for two brilliant children of friends who I have the privilege of knowing.

 

My challenge is to complete 100 outdoor swims in a swimsuit between 1st January 2022 and the 30th April 2022.  I managed all but two days in January, including one where I had to break the ice to get into the lake. My challenge is to raise funds for children of inspirational friends of ours. The money I raise will be split equally between Ed and Poppy and any contribution that you make would be greatly appreciated by their families.  As of 18th April, I am up to 90 swims and would really appreciate any support that you can give.

 

Here are Ed and Poppy's stories.

 

Ed - written by Ed's Dad Alex.

 

 

Ed is a wonderful and extraordinary boy, with a horrible disease.

Ed was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was 18 months old and has since undergone 4 separate rounds of chemotherapy treatments to try and stop its growth. He has also undergone life-saving brain surgery which worked (of course), but left him completely blind with additional acute brain injuries aged 5. Despite this, he still attends full-time education and is learning braille and walking with a cane.

 

The tumour has recently started to grow again, which means we’re about to start another treatment cycle to try and delay the inevitable radiotherapy and surgery and prolong his life. The constant struggle has meant as a family, we are very much focused on enjoying the time we have now. Any funds raised will go towards creating some amazing experiences for Ed and lasting memories for us and his twin brother Ben.

Poppy - written by Poppy's Mum Jo.

 

This is our beautiful daughter Poppy.

 

 

Poppy was born in 2010 and suffered severe brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen supply to the brain during her traumatic birth. As a result of this, our little girl is severely disabled.

 

She is registered blind, epileptic, learning disability and has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, needing full trunk support, and her condition is classed as life limiting. Cerebral palsy affects 1 in 400 live births in the UK, however Poppy is at the most severe end of the spectrum.

 

To date Poppy continues to impress doctors with her progress, it was originally thought that due to the extensive brain damage she incurred during birth, she might be in a persistent coma. Poppy has overcome massive hurdles, shows alertness and is responsive to her environment.

 

Our little girl will, however, face further difficulties as she grows, including stiff muscle tone in both her arms and legs, making normal movements difficult and painful. Her head and trunk stability are poor at present, and do not allow her to sit independently or raise her head fully when lying on her stomach.

 

 

Despite this, Poppy enjoys different sensory experiences and we try and make every day count for her. She has even been surfing, an experience she just loved! Poppy is able to smile when she is happy and has even started to giggle on occasions, but she is unable to speak or communicate through signing due to her condition. She is currently trialling eye gazing equipment as a means to communicate at school.

 

We are fundraising for specialist equipment and therapies that will give Poppy the best opportunity to maximise her potential and improve her quality of life. We have a real chance to make a difference to Poppy’s functional outcome, but needs access to the right interventions and equipment. We really want Poppy to have her own equipment so she can practice daily so she can maximise her ability to communicate in the future.

 

Follow Poppy's story on Instagram @beautifulmisspandme to follow our journey.