28 Feb Local man takes on bike ride for an operation for eight-year-old boy
Pete Smith, 37, from Burntwood, is planning to ride 162 miles on a bike at Burntwood Leisure Centre to help raise funds for his cousin’s son Eddie, 8, who has cerebral palsy.
Eight-year-old Eddie Ironmonger from Telford was born eight weeks early with under-developed lungs and suffered sepsis shortly after his birth.
The distance Pete has chosen is the distance there and back between Eddie’s home and Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool where Eddie will have a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) operation to help improve his movement and reduce his pain.
Pete, a senior claims handler with an insurance company, said: ‘Eddie’s dad Mark and I are very close and wanted to do something to help. I became a dad seven months ago and I know if the situation was reversed, Mark would be the first person trying to help me out.’
Eddie has a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia. This affects the muscle control and coordination in his legs and arms, making them stiff and contracted, which has left him unable to walk and can be painful. As he grows, the muscles will get tighter, making exercise even more painful for him. Even now, the pain can wake him up in the night, meaning he has disturbed sleep.
Mum Emma, 35, said: ‘Eddie has recently had an appointment at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). SDR is a surgical procedure that involves dividing and cutting some of the nerves in the spinal cord that contribute to spasticity in the lower limbs. The operation will improve Eddie’s mobility and quality of life. However, this is not available to Eddie with NHS funding as being unable to walk, he doesn’t meet the criteria.’
‘A very sociable and happy little boy, Eddie has lots of friends and wants to be able to interact with them on the same level. He currently uses a walking frame and loves riding his bike but can’t stay in them for long due to the tightness in his legs. This operation should help expand Eddie’s world and allow him to ride his bike and play with his cousins and friends at their level.’
His family are hoping to raise £20,000 for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery which should allow Eddie more movement and help him reach his full potential.
Mark, 33, added: ‘We’re very grateful to Pete for helping us in this way – it means a great deal and of course we wish him all the best with his challenge!’
The family are supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope which helps families fundraise for children like Eddie with healthcare needs and provides charity status to benefit from gift aid, corporate support whilst also providing donor reassurance.
Tree of Hope CEO Gill Gibb said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting Eddie and his family in their fundraising and wish them all the best in their continued fundraising.’
To donate to Eddie’s fund, visit https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/edward-eddie-ironmonger/
The family is also always grateful for any items suitable as raffle prizes.
