GIVING HARRY A HELPING HAND: Carlisle youngster at the heart of a community coming together
GIVING HARRY A HELPING HAND
A lively Carlisle youngster at the heart of a community coming together to support him.
by Danni Murphy
Seven year old Harry Calvert from Carlisle is a lot like any other boy his age. He loves wrestling, football, fast cars and spending time with his friends. He is full of energy, full of jokes and according to his family, a real little firecracker.
But there are some things Harry cannot do as easily as the other children around him.
Harry was born with cerebral palsy, which affects the right side of his body, especially his right hand, which his family lovingly calls his “helping hand.” Because movement on that side of his body is limited, everyday childhood moments many people take for granted can be a challenge. Riding a bike, scooting down the street, climbing on his own or even playing video games can be difficult.
Despite that, Harry keeps going with the same determination and big smile. His mam, Kim, says Harry has faced every challenge life has thrown at him with incredible bravery.
“When Harry was diagnosed, the doctor told me the damage to the left side of his brain was so significant that he was surprised Harry had survived,” she said. “But you would never know. He is just amazing and doing so well.”
Now Harry and his family are hoping to take the next step in helping him do even more.
There is a specialist treatment that could dramatically improve Harry’s range of movement. The therapy is an intensive four-week programme focused on retraining the brain through movement.
“The treatment involves a four-week intense course of movement therapy where we literally rewire his brain,” Kim explained. “The results from patients who have undergone the therapy are amazing. We just want to give Harry the opportunity to do what other little boys can. We want to reduce his limitations as much as possible, and this treatment could do that for him.” Unfortunately, the treatment is not available on the NHS and costs £12,000.
The good news is Harry and his family are already well on their way to making it happen. Thanks to the kindness of supporters, they have already raised £7,000 meaning they are just £5,000 away from reaching their target and being able to book the treatment in Manchester.
Harry has adapted to living with his limited movement but for his family just sitting back and accepting isn’t an option and for Kim, settling isn’t on the cards:
“To know there’s a treatment there that could give him so much means that I won’t stop until we get there, I will continue to fight for him to have the best possible future no matter how long it takes.”
Every donation brings him a little closer to things he dreams about; riding a bike, racing his friends on a scooter, or sitting down to play PlayStation just like the other kids.
To help reach the final goal, Harry’s family are taking on some huge fundraising challenges. Later this year Kim, Harry’s siblings and other family members will be taking a leap of faith. “We will be doing a skydive,” Kim said. “I did one last year which was terrifying at 10,000 feet. This year we are going up to 14,000.”
Harry’s dad Simon is also stepping up for the challenge. In June he will walk the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall, raising money along the way. The family is also being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope, which helps families raise funds for treatments not available through the NHS while providing fundraising support and financial management.
For Harry though, the dream is simple. He does not want anything extraordinary, just the chance to do the things most little boys get to do every day.
Harry has already shown how strong and determined he is. He survived despite doctors believing he might not have and he continues to thrive and bring joy to everyone who meets him. Now, with a little extra help from the community around him, even more doors could open.
If you would like to help Harry reach his goal, donations can be made through the family’s JustGiving page or in donation buckets located in businesses around Carlisle.
Text HARRYC to 70085 to donate £5
Every contribution brings Harry one step closer to riding that bike and playing alongside his friends exactly the way a seven year old should.
www.treeofhope.org.uk/giving-harry-a-helping-hand
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