Charity Raisers return from France!

Mark returns!

OK, so we've been writing about Mark and Jason and their plan to kayak across the English Channel/La Manche to raise money for Elsie-Rose and the Elsie-Rose & Friends Foundation for ages now (eg blog)... and now they've only been and done it, congratulations to all! Indeed, Jason was allowed into France without his passport, the French authorities being decent beings after finding out he'd brought a bag full of his laundry, rather than a similar bag with lunch and his passport in it, true story! 

Elsie-Rose


Young local character Elsie-Rose was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 in September 2014, a condition that causes severe muscle weakness and results in problems with movement, eating, breathing and swallowing. Without intervention, sadly, most children with SMA Type 1 die within the first 2 years of life. However, the cheerful and resilient Elsie-Rose strives to carry on enjoying life just like any other 4 year-old child, despite all the complications she just keeps on smiling!

Elsie-Rose angling recently

Because many of the expenses encountered supporting children with SMA Type 1 are not provided for by the NHS, Social Services or the Department of Health, the Elsie-Rose & Friends Foundation was set up to support families with disabled, sick and terminally ill children. Indeed, my respect and warm regards go out to Elsie-Rose's mother, family and friends, and Elsie-Rose herself, and how they cope with the myriad of complications involved in their lives.

As soon as all the money raised by/pledged to Mark and his team is counted I shall let you know the result. Again, well done, and more photographs to come!

If you would like to know more about Elsie-Rose and the Elsie-Rose & Friends Foundation, and campaigns they are involved in, please go to their facebook page or twitter. If you would like more information about Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 please go to the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Support UK website.