I first encountered Sadie Haynes through the glass walls of a purpose built 'tank' in the front entrance of the Tesco Extra store in Hanley last year! The panes of glass that made the walls were covered in the messages of well-wishers either written directly to the glass, or on one of the hundreds of pink Post-It notes stuck to them all the way around. There was a tremendous sense of excitement at what was going on - I could sense a buzz in the air. Sadie herself was just sitting on a chair within the walls, reading a book. Passing time. I recalled the infamous stunt by David Blaine years earlier; not because I thought of somebody trying to emulate it but because it as a tremendous sense of exposure, a huge challenge that confronted the enormity of such a task head on. Whatever your ambition in declaring such a commitment to raise funds, there is certainly no hiding in having to live the challenge in full public view - success or failure to achieve it is open to all to witness.
I was incredibly proud of a person I did not even know and I could not resist the opportunity of approaching the 'tank' to offer my personal best wishes - I did so, and since we have met now, we recall how she acknowledged my wishes by nearly bursting into tears because of the emotional and physical input it had exacted on her - and I think if she had, I would have too!! The impact of seeing a live event in the flesh, especially one of such significant impact in the realisation is emotional, and I recall that there was only about fifty minutes until the task was completed when I chose my moment - the sense of achievement was within touching distance for Sadie. She had spent thirty-six hours in this 'world' - locked in ... 'Locked in for Autism', as the name of the task was that has created a significant chapter in fundraising history.
Sadie Haynes is a Community Champion at Tesco Hanley, who's missions have been as varied as they have been individually successful, and to date she is well on course to raise Sixty-Thousand Pounds for those causes in the scope of her varied passions; painting rooms for the Samaritans, collecting doggie related food and supplies for Greyhound Gap, and now to raise the final Two-Thousand Pounds for Skye, a 7 year old little girL whose family are trying to raise £21,000 to pay for an operation to help Skye walk unaided, because the treatment is not available on the NHS.
Skye Twyford has cerebral palsy and can only walk short distances with the help of a frame and the use of a wheelchair.
Medicas have ruled that the school girl is suitable for pioneering operation to help her walk, but the procedure is no longer available on the NHS. Syke will tell you that this operation will allow her to walk much better and play with her friends. The operation Skye has been put forward for is the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) treatment, which will reduce the stiffness in Skye's legs. Neurosurgeon Bernadetta Petroni has said "cerebral palsy tightens a persons muscle control and restricts their movement. It is an extremely complex condition; every child is different and should be treated individually. SDR is still very new, and the high risk pioneering surgery is not appropriate for every child and involves intensive rehabilitation but it can be very beneficial in many cases".
Once you have met Skye your outlook on every day life changes for the better! She brings a ray of sunshine with her no matter how she is feeling or whether she's had a good day or not, she brings with her hope, not just for herself but for everyone she meets. She is a determined little girl who has everything to live for, so why shouldn't she have the opportunity to fulfil her life to the full?
If that means we as a community pull together to raise the extra funds needed then so be it, i will do whatever it takes to raise the £2000 that is still needed...
That is why I have donated my 'Potter -Spirit of the Six Towns' ... and I wish it well in the safe hands of Sadie Haynes, an extraordinary woman in her own right, and somebody whom is I believe, going to get the necessary job done ...
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