STANDARD readers could help transform the life of a five-year-old girl by raising funds for a sensory garden.
Millie O’Conner, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and goes to Chadsgrove School in Bromsgrove, needs thousands of pounds to help create the specially designed garden at her home.
The youngster, who is unable to talk and uses a wheelchair, has access to a sensory garden at school which includes plants and features which stimulate her senses.
After her mother Emma saw the joy it brought to her life, she has now begun a fund-raising campaign to recreate something similar at their home.
“We have just moved into this property because it’s more accessible for her in her wheelchair as it’s a bungalow, but the garden is box standard.” she said.
“She loves being in the garden at school, hearing things like the water feature and touching all the plants, and she can easily get around there.
“I want to do the garden a bit at a time because I know it will cost thousands because we want to put artificial grass in so she can use her wheelchair, put a ground level water feature in and fence it properly so we can have equipment hanging on the fence for her too.”
The Redditch resident created a Facebook page called Millie’s Magical Garden where she asked friends for any fund-raising ideas and within a few hours messages began flooding in.
One group called Riders for Causes has offered to take part in a motorcycle ride from Wythall to Abbeydale as well as a run on March 8, while Redditch Heart Safe has also agreed to provide a bouncy castle for a fun day.
“I am overwhelmed, there are people who genuinely want to do something to help. You can feel on your own when you have a child with a disability, so it is amazing to have that support.”
She added she still needed people to have stalls at the fun day, volunteer, offer ideas and donate raffle prizes.
“It is really hard asking for help, you feel a bit embarrassed. If I could afford it I would, but it isn’t possible at the moment.”
Anyone wanting to find out more about Millie’s Magical Garden or organise fund-raising events for the cause can visit www.facebook.com/milliesmemories and get in touch with Emma there.
Emma Grantham is hoping to transform her garden for daughter Millie, five. Picture by Marcus Mingins 0415002MMR2
