Joanna Alexander, a nurse from Wroughton, is embarking on an extraordinary journey to support her daughter, Poppy, who faces profound health challenges.
Poppy, now 13 years old, has confronted significant hurdles since birth, enduring severe brain damage that resulted in quadriplegic cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and blindness. Despite all of these obstacles, Poppy’s spirit shines bright as she finds joy in sensory experiences like surfing and outings in her bike trailer or wheelchair, and has even been surfing.
Joanna, 43, a bank nurse, and Rod, 47 live in Wroughton with Poppy and their three other children and are keen to raise £26,500 for an Innowalk, a motorised standing device, for Poppy.
The device offers therapeutic benefits, aiding in respiration, digestion, and circulation, while also providing Poppy with greater mobility and comfort.
Reflecting on their journey, Joanna said ‘Poppy’s health has not been good lately and she has been in and out of hospital with chest infections.’
‘She has had a trial on an Innowalk and absolutely loved it. However as well as it being enjoyable for her, the increased movement and upright position are good for her in so many ways – helping her breathing, digestion, circulation and more.’
‘Unfortunately they are very expensive! We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us in the past, fundraising to help us towards buying Poppy an eye gaze machine to aid her communicate which was around £15,000, and a new off-road wheelchair which was £6,500. The Innowalk will cost over £26,500, but will greatly improve Poppy’s quality of life, and funding for this is not available from the NHS or local authorities.’
In a bid to raise funds and awareness, Joanna has taken on the daunting challenge of the 100K Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge. This gruelling two-day trek traverses picturesque landscapes from Corfe Castle to Bridport, encompassing iconic landmarks such as Durdle Door and Chesil Beach.
Joanna said: ‘I used to be quite fit but it is very hard to find the time to exercise with Poppy in and out of hospital so much. I thought taking on this challenge would help me to get fit, as obviously I need to train, as well as raising money for Poppy.’
‘So far it has been going quite well, I’ve managed 100K over four days, simply because I can’t generally find larger chunks of time than that.!
‘Like any parents, we want Poppy to be able to reach her full potential, and we believe an Innowalk would help her get the most out of life.’
The family has found support through the children’s charity Tree of Hope, which aids families in fundraising for vital healthcare needs beyond NHS provisions. Tree of Hope not only facilitates fundraising but also provides crucial charity status to benefit from gift aid, and corporate support whilst also providing donor reassurance.
Becky Andrew, CEO of Tree of Hope, commended Joanna’s dedication and pledged ongoing support for Poppy’s cause, wishing Joanna success in her fundraising journey.
To contribute to Poppy’s fund or sponsor Joanna’s challenge, visit the fundraising page at https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/poppypopsfund/.
