‘Keep Mya Moving’ fundraising campaign

A FAMILY from Melksham has begun a fundraising campaign to raise £7,000 to buy a special wheelchair for five year-old Mya Macey-Plested.

Mya was born at 28 weeks with a spinal cord injury, leaving her an incomplete tetraplegic which affects her arms and legs. She is unable to walk and uses a wheelchair; however she is rapidly outgrowing her current wheelchair and will soon need a replacement.

Mya’s mum Lauren said, “Mya is an amazing little girl and has never let her disability stop her from trying to lead as normal a life as possible. That’s why having this wheelchair is so important.

“The NHS wheelchairs are so big and bulky and there’s no way she could push herself along. If she could use it, of course we would be grateful for a wheelchair, but it’s unsuitable. She’s so tiny and has very little upper body strength so we would have to push her around. She would lose her independence; she wouldn’t be able to play with friends, be involved in events and activities at school or go to birthday parties or school discos. It would be a big change for her.

“She goes to Bowerhill Primary School and they have been brilliant. They involve her with everything, including sports day! She’s not made to feel any different from the other children. In fact, she had a special mention in the school newsletter last month by the headteacher. Mr Matthews who said Mya was very caring and always looked out for her friends and other pupils. She is so sweet and although she’s only five and has her own difficulties, she always thinks about other people before herself.

“£7,000 seems like a lot of money but it’s not just buying the wheelchair that’s expensive. We have to pay for general maintenance, new brakes, new tyres and servicing.

“Already, we’ve had friends and family signing up for fundraising events, including a skydive! We’re so grateful to everyone who has already donated or said they will fundraise for us. Anything anyone can do for us would be amazing, a cake sale or a coffee morning – every donation helps. Mya goes back to hospital in May, so I’d love to have the money ready to organise buying the wheelchair before then. If we don’t, then we’ll have to wait and keep fundraising. She needs the wheelchair so we have no option but to keep raising money until we can buy it for her.”

You can donate to the Keep Mya Moving fundraising campaign by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/keepmyamoving or you can pay donations into Mya’s personal account: Mya Macey-Plested – 30-98-75 46753560. Cheques to be paid to Mya Macey-Plested.