Irlam Technician’s Epic Challenge for Cerebral Palsy

An Irlam technician is taking on the Tour de Manchester cycle race on 3 May to help raise funds for his best friend’s daughter who has cerebral palsy.

Freya, now aged 15, was born with two holes in her heart and has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and has undergone numerous operations. Her physiotherapy, which is not available on the NHS, costs around £1,000 per month.

Lee Sleaford, 49, a technician who works at a winery, is taking on the Tour de Manc Classic event of 103 miles.

Lee said: ‘Freya has just had her seventh operation and her Dad Darren has to find around £200 each week for her physio. Darren and I have been mates for 20 years I wanted to help him out with that.’

‘I enjoy cycling but this is the first time I’ve done something like this. I wanted to do it both as a personal challenge and to help Freya.’

Dad Darren Bailey, 54, a water engineer, has been holding annual ‘Scooter Grannies’ races since 2016 to help raise funds for an operation which helped ease Freya’s pain. He now has to continue to raise money for ongoing physio which helps to keep her mobile and means she can continue to ride her adapted bike and go swimming. This year, they decided to opt for the bike ride instead.

Darren said: ‘Originally I was thinking of some kind of event with us dressed as superheroes but my friend Olive, who is 80, said: ‘Everyone does that, why not dress as grannies? So I took myself to the charity shop, bought some outfits and Scooter Grannies was born.’

‘As well as her ongoing physiotherapy, which costs £200 each week, I am constantly having to buy or upgrade equipment as she grows and her needs change. I’ve already had to remortgage the house to make the adaptations she needs, and there is always something else that needs paying for, even aside from her physiotherapy.’

Darren worries about how Freya will be cared for in the future. ‘If it was just me, I’d probably just give up,’ he said. ‘But I need to keep on fighting for Freya. I’m truly grateful to Lee for taking this on for Freya – it means a lot.’

The family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope, which helps families raise money for children and young people like Freya for medical treatments and healthcare services not freely available to them through the NHS and social care. The charity provides fundraising guidance, campaign development, financial management, charity registration and emotional support from the Family Support team. Families like Freya’s benefit from having the support, tools and resources to fundraise effectively as well as access to gift aid, corporate support while also

providing donor reassurance.

Tree of Hope CEO Becky Andrew said: ‘We wish Freya and her supporters all the best with their fundraising activities! We are pleased to give them support in reaching their fundraising goals.’

To donate to Freya’s fund or to sponsor Lee, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/challenge-for-freya  or https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/ways-to-give/childrens-campaigns/freyas-little-legs/