SHMA: Residential Development Team walk for CPM

March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and Birmingham Legal Firm 'Shakespeare Martineau Residential Development Team', their families (and furry friends) walked, ran and danced their way around a 5k route at Cannon Hill Park on Saturday 4th March to raise money for Cerebral Palsy Midlands. They walk was a huge success and they raised an incredible £1499! 

 

Lucy Haynes from the Residential Development Team has a two year old daughter Penny, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy around six months ago. Penny suffers with right hemiplegia which is a form of paralysis of her right hand side and she also has epilepsy. It's quite common for a person with a disability to have more than one impairment. Recent studies show 75% of people with a disability have more than one disability. 

 

Lucy says "Quite amazingly Penny's brain has compensated for some of the brain damage and at the moment she is a happy mobile toddler with a healthy dose of that 'terrible two' tenacity. She will however face continual difficulties throughout her life, many of which we won't know until grows. The big challenge for her now is as she grows and develops, her movement is likely to become more restricted and she may need help and support to continue to be as mobile and independent as possible."  

 

Cerebral Palsy Midlands are generally a service for adults, offering a day service for adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, whose needs are complex. However, we do often get families asking for guidance and support and we will support them or signpost in anyway we can. Cerebral Palsy Midlands are hugely grateful to everyone who attended the Cannon hill walk and got behind Lucy and Penny with the Residential Development Team with an ambitious weekend walk. And, also, a huge thank you to everyone who donated, the money will help us continue to run our service for people with Cerebral Palsy.