Hambleton’s young ‘trampoliners’ will be bouncing for charity next week.
As part of their Saturday morning trampoline class at Hambleton Leisure Centre they have been challenged by coaches Mel Patterson and Fiona Porter to bounce the length of the ‘Coast to Coast’ walk for the charity ‘Myaware’ who aim to make life easier for people living with myasthenia gravis – a severe muscle weakening disease.
Lynne Richardson, a Customer Services Officer at Hambleton District Council is behind the ‘bounce’ as her three year old granddaughter Katelyn was diagnosed with the lifetime condition last year.
Whilst the youngsters will be busy jumping the equivalent of the 192 mile walk in yards – 34,920, Neil Patterson, a family friend from Northallerton will be doing his bit for the charity by doing the actual walk from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay! Lynne and her daughter Hayley (Katelyn’s Mum) will be meeting Neil just over halfway with other friends to do the ten miles of the walk from Danby Wiske to Osmotherley.
“Katelyn has just had a thymectomy which is the removal of her thymus gland,” said Lynne.
“It is a relatively new procedure and it is hoped this will help with the symptoms she has as a result of Myashtenia Gravis but we won’t know for at least 18 months whether or not it will make a difference. Normally high doses of steroids are used to treat Myasthenia, but with her being so young they were making her unwell, so her paediatrician decided on the operation.
“So far I have raised an amazing £4,400 for the charity and am eternally grateful for all the support I have had from local businesses, family and friends, and for the understanding of colleagues at Hambleton District Council.”
As well as the ‘bounce’ at the Leisure Centre in Northallerton on 10 October from 9am to 12 noon there will be a tombola, raffle, cake stall, face painting, second hand book/toys stall and ‘Priority Pets’ from Northallerton – will be bringing snails, spiders and snakes for the children to hold and have their picture taken with.
And anyone who wants to sponsor Neil can do so at www.justgiving.com/neilpattersonjustcoasting