An Inverness family have praised the “wonderful” people of the Highland capital after a £25,000 fundraising campaign to buy a specialist wheelchair for their daughter succeeded in just three months.
Sophia Walsh, 10, suffers from Dystonic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, a condition which affects all her limbs.
At just four months old, her parents Tracey, 42, and Steve, 53, noticed an unusual eye movement, sparking concerns about the youngster’s development.
Then, following a series of tests, doctors provided the family with a “working diagnosis” in the hope of pinpointing and treating her condition in the future.
The couple launched the fundraising bid last September in an effort to aid her mobility – and it proved so successful they were able to watch Sophia take part in her school’s pantomime in her new chair.
Mrs Walsh said: We would like to thank the wonderful people of Inverness and the surrounding areas for getting behind Sophia and raising such a phenomenal amount in such a short time.
“The chair arrived earlier than expected at the end of November, so Sophia was able to spend a couple of weeks at school with it before the end of term.
“There was no way we were going to keep it from her until Christmas, and we were probably more excited than she was.
“We are so very grateful to the people of Inverness and the Highlands for getting behind Sophia and making her dream come true.”
Mrs Walsh said the family had been “absolutely gobsmacked” by the support they have received from “groups and individuals, local families, friends and the kindness of strangers”.
“People have not only been generous with their money, but also with their time and thoughtfulness by asking how they can help,” she said.
Mrs Walsh also paid tribute to one of Sophia’s school friends, Ryan Morrison, and his family, for the amazing fundraiser he decided to undertake.
She said: “This led to him climbing more than 820 feet at the Inverness Leisure Climbing Wall – no mean feat for an adult, let alone a nine-year-old.
“He is our absolute hero, just an incredible young man with an incredibly supportive and generous family.
“Since getting the chair, Sophia has been able to stand and sit with everyone else during this year’s school pantomime as well as join in with the other activities at school.
“As she gets more used to the size of the chair and as her awareness increases and her confidence grows, she will be able to do more and the benefits will increase.
“This chair will last her into adulthood, so it is a long-term investment and we promise to take good care of it.”
