40 in 40 for Gabe's Goal
Donation protected
Hi, I'm Anna.
Some of you may know that I have Cerebral Palsy affecting both legs and took my first independent steps at 6 years old. I now move using crutches (and sometimes a wheelchair!)
My health has been a challenge over the years and as a teenager I was told that it takes me around four times more energy to walk than the average person. However, I am very grateful for my mobility and am determined to increase my strength and fitness.
While contemplating my 40th birthday in September 2020, I have been inspired to help Gabe, a very special little boy, who also has C.P, to give him best chance of walking, too!
To raise some much needed funds for Gabe's ongoing and intensive physical and occupational therapy in the UK and the US, I am planning to walk 40 miles in 40 weeks (half a mile at a time) starting this Christmas and ending on my birthday.
This will be a HUGE effort for me (especially in the Winter!) and Gabe deserves ALL the help he can get, so please give whatever you can as it will make such a difference to his life.
I would LOVE to walk with as many of you as possible (if any airlines or travel companies want to sponsor a flight, maybe I can walk with my friends around the world, too?!) so do let me know if you want to be part of what promises to be an EPIC adventure!
Thank you so much and I look forward to sharing with you every step of the way!
Much love,
Anna xo
Here's Gabe's story from his lovely Mum, Stephanie.
"Gabe was born with Congenital CMV. We had no idea anything was wrong until Gabe didn't make the same physical milestones that other babies did such as rolling over, sitting up etc.
At just over a year old we found out that Gabe had caught the CMV virus while in the womb at around 20 weeks old and an MRI revealed that his brain had been damaged by it . As a result of this infection Gabe has cerebral palsy & development delay. He cannot walk at 3 yrs old and has hemiplegia affecting his left side. Gabe is our shining star who brings so much joy to us and his amazing big brother Ned.
He loves singing, shapes, the alphabet and numbers - counting to 10 at the top of his voice! We want Gabe to be given the chance to overcome his difficulties and be able to walk to access the world just as other children can.
In order to reach our goal of Gabe walking independently Gabe needs ongoing therapy. We are fund-raising to pay for intensive therapy in this country but also the US. They offer some groundbreaking treatment for children with CP in America - in particular at the Napa centre in Boston.
The benefits of this therapy can be unbelievable and some children have even moved on from using a walker to using walking sticks at the end of the 3 weeks. This kind of treatment in these early years of childhood will be crucial to Gabe fulfilling his potential.
We were lucky enough to raise the funds for Gabe to attend the Napa centre in July and by the end of the 3 weeks he stood up by himself and took 3 steps independently ! This gave us so much hope for him walking by himself one day. We know he can do it and we want to go back out to the centre next year before Gabe starts school to give him another big boost to his physical strength & his confidence.
Please help us get Gabe walking!"
Some of you may know that I have Cerebral Palsy affecting both legs and took my first independent steps at 6 years old. I now move using crutches (and sometimes a wheelchair!)
My health has been a challenge over the years and as a teenager I was told that it takes me around four times more energy to walk than the average person. However, I am very grateful for my mobility and am determined to increase my strength and fitness.
While contemplating my 40th birthday in September 2020, I have been inspired to help Gabe, a very special little boy, who also has C.P, to give him best chance of walking, too!
To raise some much needed funds for Gabe's ongoing and intensive physical and occupational therapy in the UK and the US, I am planning to walk 40 miles in 40 weeks (half a mile at a time) starting this Christmas and ending on my birthday.
This will be a HUGE effort for me (especially in the Winter!) and Gabe deserves ALL the help he can get, so please give whatever you can as it will make such a difference to his life.
I would LOVE to walk with as many of you as possible (if any airlines or travel companies want to sponsor a flight, maybe I can walk with my friends around the world, too?!) so do let me know if you want to be part of what promises to be an EPIC adventure!
Thank you so much and I look forward to sharing with you every step of the way!
Much love,
Anna xo
Here's Gabe's story from his lovely Mum, Stephanie.
"Gabe was born with Congenital CMV. We had no idea anything was wrong until Gabe didn't make the same physical milestones that other babies did such as rolling over, sitting up etc.
At just over a year old we found out that Gabe had caught the CMV virus while in the womb at around 20 weeks old and an MRI revealed that his brain had been damaged by it . As a result of this infection Gabe has cerebral palsy & development delay. He cannot walk at 3 yrs old and has hemiplegia affecting his left side. Gabe is our shining star who brings so much joy to us and his amazing big brother Ned.
He loves singing, shapes, the alphabet and numbers - counting to 10 at the top of his voice! We want Gabe to be given the chance to overcome his difficulties and be able to walk to access the world just as other children can.
In order to reach our goal of Gabe walking independently Gabe needs ongoing therapy. We are fund-raising to pay for intensive therapy in this country but also the US. They offer some groundbreaking treatment for children with CP in America - in particular at the Napa centre in Boston.
The benefits of this therapy can be unbelievable and some children have even moved on from using a walker to using walking sticks at the end of the 3 weeks. This kind of treatment in these early years of childhood will be crucial to Gabe fulfilling his potential.
We were lucky enough to raise the funds for Gabe to attend the Napa centre in July and by the end of the 3 weeks he stood up by himself and took 3 steps independently ! This gave us so much hope for him walking by himself one day. We know he can do it and we want to go back out to the centre next year before Gabe starts school to give him another big boost to his physical strength & his confidence.
Please help us get Gabe walking!"
Organizer and beneficiary
Anna Grace Taylor
Organizer
Stephanie Whitelock
Beneficiary
