Hello, my name is Melissa Rose Jones, and I am 9 years and 11 months old.

I was born very prematurely and was extremely poorly. Because of this, I eat through a tube in my tummy and have cerebral palsy, which means the left side of my body doesn’t work as well as my right. My mobility is therefore very limited, and I also live with several other serious health and learning disabilities.

I spent the first nine weeks of my life in intensive care. After that, Russ and Andrea came into my life, and we became a family. They have loved me from the very first day we met, and they later adopted me — and I’ve been wrapped in love ever since.

My health has often tried to slow me down. I’ve spent a lot of time in and out of hospital and have had some scary moments along the way, including a collapsed lung and serious infections that meant I’ve spent more time in intensive care than any little girl ever should!

But I am brave, and I am strong, and I fight for my wonderful life every single day. Despite everything, I can even ride a horse all by myself!

I also absolutely love Mr Tumble — and woe betide anyone who tries to turn him off. I will throw my arm across my eyes and dramatically fling myself backwards in full drama queen style!

I am now growing bigger and no longer fit safely in my pushchair style wheelchair, and I’m also too big to be lifted in and out of the car. I have a brand new pink, sparkly wheelchair, but it means I now need a car with a ramp so I can get to school, appointments, adventures, and everywhere else life should take me.

Motability are going to help us, but they need a £15,000 deposit to make this possible. My dad is going to ride his bike up some really, really big hills in France (Alpe d’Huez, Col du Galibier and Col du Télégraphe) to help raise the money — and I’m hoping you might be able to help me too.

Thank you so much for reading my story.

Big kisses for any help you can give me to support my independence ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you

Melissa