Hadleigh Hares Fundraising Beneficiary 2011/12 - Xanthe Carter

August 2012

At the moment, Xanthe is a bit all over the place. we are really get her walking, with her holding our hands, and she is progressing well. She does conductive education (a type of physiotherapy pioneered by Josef Peto in Hungry) every holidays for 2 hours a day, and in her 2 weeks of sessions this holidays she did really well and is considerably stronger. this has definitely been helped by her riding as she goes to the RDA in Shelley every week during the termtime. She is really getting there and can remember how to step now which is massive for her given the considerable stroke and brain damage that she has sustained.

Xanthe's epilepsy continues to be tricky and means she doesn't sleep properly and falls over a lot when walking. Not ideal, but we keep her going and believe that with continued therapeutic input, she will get there. Because the NHS will only provide her with bare minimum of therapy (2 hours per term of physio, 2 hours per term of Speech and Language) we are left with no choice but to fund raise to employ therapists to fill the void.

Peoples generousity and donations from their own fund raising for her is just amazing, and quite overwhelming. It gives us hope and light at the end of the tunnel when the chips are down and we find ourselves fighting social services on her behalf, or have to buy another piece of vastly expensive kit because the NHS won't fund it. Add an additional '0' to everything for special needs!

Thank you very much for keeping Xanthe in mind, and for all your fund raising efforts. It really, really helps and enables us plan a little way into the future for her.

Kind regards,
Jessie Carter

June 2011

Xanthe is now 4 years old, but when she was 9 months old she contracted pneumococcal meningitis and suffered a major stroke as a result of it. She was critically ill and on a life support machine for 2 weeks, but battled through and is now having to manage and cope with the devastating after effects of her illness.

Xanthe is unable to walk or talk currently due to the brain damage that she sustained, though we are committed to help her to learn to do this. Further to this, she has also developed a difficult form of epilepsy to treat. Her seizures make learning difficult and she needs 1:1 care.

Whilst the NHS has been as supportive as it can be, local rural resources cannot provide the 1:1 physiotherapy and speech and language regularly enough and thus progress is agonisingly slow.

Our only choice is to seek private therapists who can make up the difference, though typically a 1:1 physiotherapy and speech and language session costs £70. Xanthe really needs intensive therapy every week to make any real progress.

In addition to this, we take Xanthe on an intensive physiotherapy course, for 3 weeks at a time, twice a year with the aim that practicing every day helps her brain to re-wire and learn how to move.

These intensive courses cost £2500.

Xanthe’s equipment is mainly supplied by the NHS, but the choice is often very limited in its variety which means we are forced into having to apply for grants in order to buy bespoke items, like walking frames and her trike. Xanthe’s trike cost £1,300 for example.

Xanthe is by nature, a happy, smiley little girl and we are determined that with the right help and support she can learn to do some of the things that we take for granted.

Kind regards,
Jessie Carter

Matt Blacoe - Lakeland 50 Trail Race 2011 - In aid of Xanthe Carter

A brief message from Matt ...

"I am competing at the end of July to help raise funds for Xanthe Carter to allow her ton continue her 1:1 Physio, speech & language therapy. All money raised will go directly to helping Xanthe. For further information on the event and sponsorship visit The Montane Lakeland 50"

Brian Airlie - London Marathon 2011 - Cancer Research UK

A brief message from Brian...

"I am competing in this years London Marathon to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK. In the memory of a Hadleigh Boy who died at age 21 and my Uncle who died at age 60.  Your support for this very worthy charity can be made by clicking the following link: http://www.runningsponsorme.org/brianairlie"

Deb Stewart - London Marathon 2011 - Thomas Wolsey School

A thank you and race report from Deb ...

"First of all, thanks to my support team; running buddies & well-wishers – without you I would not have made it to the finish. It was a great day starting with boarding the Ipswich Jaffa’s coach to London at 6am. It was a smooth journey and within a couple of hours I found myself in the blue start area, bumping into Brian Airlie (a fellow Hare).

The event itself was very well organised and all of a sudden I was lined up waiting for the start, chatting to Lisa who had come from New Zealand specifically for the race. As I went round I tried not to think of the distance ahead, but focussed on keeping a steady pace & looking out for my supporters.

The crowds were amazing and having my name printed on my shirt helped generate a lot of support which kept me going. The main highlight for me was to cross Tower Bridge. However, the sights & noise all along the route were also amazing. Once I was on the embankment I knew I was going to make it to the end,  and I finally made it to the finish line in 4 hours 26 minutes and 14 seconds, a Personal Best by 6 minutes. Although I finished 15344^th overall (top 44%), I am extremely pleased with the statistic of finishing 196^th (out of 712) in my age category!"

our support for this very worthy charity can be made by clicking the following link: http://www.justgiving.com/Deborah-Stewart