MOMENTUM is growing for the campaign to help Daniel Speed reach his dream to walk.
The five-year-old who was featured on the front page of last week’s Bromsgrove Standard has now been booked in for his first two intensive physiotherapy sessions.
Daniel Speed and his family are aiming to raise £10,000 to pay for the specialist equipment and treatment he needs, which is not paid for by the NHS.
The youngster suffers from periventricular leukomalacia, a type of cerebral palsy that causes spastic diplegia, mostly affecting his legs.
In the last week a number of kind-hearted residents have come forward with donations to help Daniel’s cause including West Midlands Fire Brigade which has donated £500.
The appeal has now received more than 100 donations but there is still a long way to go to reach the target, with the current total standing at almost £2,400. S
outh Birmingham yoga instructor Jon Moult has planned a sponsored sun salutation with more than 60 people taking part. The big event will take place on August 1 at the Abbey Stadium, in Redditch.
It takes around an hour and half and is a sequence of ten moves which, together with breathing techniques, create the vinyasa.
Jon said he saw Daniel’s picture on the front page and decided he wanted to help before even reading the story. “I just saw he needed help and that wicked little smile of his,” he added.
“As a yoga practitioner you are very aware of how much you need your body and we are very fortunate with how much our bodies can do.
“All Daniel wants to do is walk and be normal – something most of us are able to do.
“I will be ecstatic if I can help Daniel – everything we can raise is a bonus – this is all about helping Daniel reach his dream to be able to play football with his friends.”
Laura, Daniel’s mum, said it was great they had seen more donations.
“Everyone is talking about it. “He got so excited seeing his face was on the front page of the paper,” she added.
Laura said a parent at Daniel’s school was also raising money for the cause by doing a sponsored walk up Snowdon.
“We are quite overwhelmed with the amount of support we have had, we were quite shocked. “We didn’t expect to get this much help and support.”
Anyone wanting to take part in salutation is more than welcome. Visit www.ashtanga-jon.com or call the Abbey Stadium on 01527 60206 for more information.
Residents can also visit www.justgiving.com/danielswishtowalk to donate to Daniel’s cause.
