A BRAVE Appledore girl about to undergo a major operation to correct
the curvature of her spine is hoping the community can help her
experience a once in a lifetime trip to Legoland.
Betsy Fiddy
found out in July she has scoliosis, a life threatening and altering
condition, and is on a waiting list to undergo a 12-hour operation to
fit metal rods and screws to correct the curvature of her spine.
After
the operation, the brave 10-year-old will never be able to go on a
bouncy castle, enjoy rides at an amusement park or even go on a
trampoline again.
Since the diagnosis, friends and family have set
up a Go Fund Me page so inspirational Betsy can experience what it is
like to visit Legoland and enjoy as many rides as she can and create
wonderful memories for her scrapbook.
Mum Ruth Cooper-Chappell said she was still struggling to come to
terms with the diagnosis but described her daughter as truly
inspirational and stoic.
"She has been incredible from the very start," said the mum-of-four.
Ruth has fibromyalgia, which means she can rarely leave the house so
the whole family have been overwhelmed with the support from the friends
and the community.
Ruth set up a Facebook page called Betsy's
Postcards where friends from all over the world, including Hong Kong and
Hawaii have sent a postcard for the Appledore Primary School pupil to
keep in a scrapbook to look at when she is in hospital and on the long
road to recovery.
Legoland is somewhere Betsy has always wanted to
go and she wants her whole family to go along for the ride, with
fundraisers hoping to raise £2,000 for the family weekend trip.
Close
friend Beverley Sumner and former Appledore resident Heather Miller,
who now lives in Canada, have been inspired by Besty and have been
working hard to contact businesses to help with the fundraising goal.
Beverley had a similar operation when she was teenager so knows what Betsy may face in the future.
"It
broke my heart when I heard about Betsy and it really struck a chord
with me, so that's why I am doing all I can to help reach the £2,000
goal," said Beverley
Businesses from around North Devon have been donating prizes for a raffle and Bideford Round Table has donated £250.
Betsy
added: "I saw an advert for Legoland and it looked really epic and
would really love to go. Everyone's help so far has made me very happy."
Source : North Devon Journal , 31st Oct 2015
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