Playing sport, going shopping, going to work, even walking the dog maybe the “norm” for us. Our children play in the street, climb trees or for members of Steve Hale Goalkeeping School turning up on a Monday evening and being able to run, jump, dive, catch and kick a ball maybe the “norm” also.
For 5 year old Robbie Davies it’s not. Robbie suffered a bleed on his brain when he was born nine weeks prematurely, causing a condition known as diplegia cerebral palsy which means the muscles in his legs do not work properly. ALL little Robbie Davies wants to do is kick a football with his brother, but so far the five-year-old has spent most of his life in a wheelchair.
A few months ago it was discovered that a £40,000 operation in America could help this little boy to achieve his dream. The life-changing operation at St Louis Hospital in Missouri, which is not available in the UK, will target nerves in Robbie’s spine which could allow his muscles to move normally. The £40,000 will be used to pay for the operation, flights, accommodation and three weeks of physiotherapy.
Robbie used to live just over the road from me and now lives only a stone’s throw from Ruskin Junior School where Steve Hale Goalkeeping School currently train. I can still remember looking out of my kitchen window on Christmas day last year and seeing Robbie playing in a battery powered car his parents had bought him for Christmas. Seeing such a big smile on his face and the enjoyment that toy brought him was brilliant and it would be even better to see the smile on his face if the operation allowed him the ability to walk and perhaps even do something as simple as kicking a football with his brother.
Steve Hale Goalkeeping School will be doing all it can to help raise funds for this worthwhile cause and with this in mind I would ask all goalkeepers and parents to play their part by participating and supporting my “Save for Robbie Appeal” on Monday 6th December 2010.
In our Monday evening session on Monday 6th December, starting at the usual times of 5.15pm-6.15pm for the younger age group and 6.15pm-7.15pm for the older age group the following will take place. Every goalkeeper will take part in a penalty shoot out facing 20 penalties each in total from the other goalkeepers in their respective age group. It’s their job to try and save as many as possible. Each child will be asked to gain sponsorship from family and friends for however many penalties they can save.
I have a Swindon Town Shirt signed by all the players which is up for auction, the highest bid currently stands at £75.00 and bidding will close on Monday 6th at 6.15pm at the event so if anyone would like to bid on that contact me ASAP. Also available on the night will be the gloves of the Swindon Town quartet of goalkeepers, Dave Lucas, Phil Smith, Mark Scott and Jakub Jesionkowski who have all kindly donated them to the cause which I will be raffling off at £1 for a strip of 5 tickets and the draw will be made on the evening.
Robbie and his parents will be making an appearance on the evening so here's to making it a great success!
If anyone would like to make a donation, cheques need to be made payable to "Help Robbie to Walk" and can be either sent to me to pass on or directly to Robbies parents, details of their address can be found on the guestbook on the linked website below.
To read more about Robbie please see the attached link:
www.helprobbietowalk.ourwishingwell.com
Due to icy conditions of both the astro pitch and the car park at Ruskin along with -5 freezing fog predicted for this evening the "Save for Robbie Appeal" has been postponed tonight (6th December) and will now take place next Monday 13th December