Harley fund tops halfway mark

Harley Hesford: hoping to walk unaided after treatment in America

Final push begins to get boy treatment in the States
AN APPEAL to raise £40,000 pounds to help a boy undergo life-changing surgery has smashed the halfway mark after only four months.

Runners, walkers, cyclists, rollerskaters and bag packers have collected over £21,000 for Harleys Quest. Launched in September, the appeal is in aid of Harley Hesford (8), from Failsworth, who has cerebral palsy and needs surgery in America to be able to walk unaided.

Now the final push begins to raise the remaining £19,000 before his planned operation in April.

Doctors have given the go-ahead for the procedure which will see the South Failsworth Primary School pupil walk unaided only 12 months after surgery — as long £40,000 is raised to cover flights and medical and living costs while in the United States.

The Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) procedure involves cutting some of the abnormal sensory nerve fibres that enter the spinal chord.

The operation is currently carried out at a hospital in Wales, but doctors there rejected Harley as unsuitable for the procedure.

Now the family are resting their hopes on medical staff at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri.

His father Paul Hesford (38) said: “We’re determined to get to the final amount and I’m more relaxed about it now than at the start of the appeal.

“It has been hard for me working full-time and looking after the family, but any parent would do the same.

“It’s very humbling and amazing how people have responded.

“We’ve had lots of people from Harley’s school and the community phoning up and saying they want to hold events.

“Harley featured in the Christmas edition of Take A Break magazine and we’ve had people we don’t know donating a total of £400 as a result, as well as an anonymous donation of £500.”

A whole host of fundraising events have been held to meet the challenging target, including a 55-mile sponsored walk from Blackpool to Manchester, a raffle at the Tan Shop in Hollinwood, a sponsored 206-mile ride on an exercise bike at Failsworth Sports Centre, and a sponsored bike ride by Harley’s school pals.

The next few months will see a series of fundraising events including a bag pack at Morrisons, Failsworth, from 10am tomorrow.

Plans are also being discussed for a fundraising football match towards the end of February.

Mr Hesford said: “We’re collecting all the Blackpool walk money this month which will hopefully tip us over the £30,000 mark.

“With other fund-raisers planned and money coming in from smaller events, we should have enough to book the flights and go to America in April as planned.”

To make a donation or for more information visit www.harleysquest.moonfruit.com