Evie Poole gets ready for op date after £46,000 raised

If there's one thing Evie Poole is looking forward to doing, it's running around with her little brother Will.

It's the sort of activity that most six-year-olds take for granted. But Evie has cerebral palsy, a neurological condition which causes problems with movement and co-ordination - and as a result she has to use a walking frame.

But later this month the youngster will undergo an operation that will help her to walk on her own – all thanks to people in Market Drayton who have helped her family raise £46,000 to pay for it.

"I am very excited but also a little scared about my operation but I am looking forward to mommy and daddy bringing High School Musical into hospital for me to watch and everyone coming to visit me," Evie said.

"I am so pleased that people have helped raise money for my operation so that I can learn to walk and run around with my little brother Will and all my cousins.

"Thank you everyone in Market Drayton."

Back in February Evie's father Jonathan Poole, a paramedic from the town, launched a fundraising campaign to raise £50,000 after bosses at South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust refused to fund the corrective surgery.

And Market Drayton quickly rallied round the youngster with a host of fundraising events that raised an incredible £46,000 in just six months.

Now Evie will undergo the life changing surgery at Leeds General Infirmary on September 19.

Mr Poole said: "We can never thank our families, friends and especially the people of Market Drayton enough for all their support and hard work over the past six months.

"Without their generosity and warm hearts we would not be in the fortunate position we are in today.

"Despite being a little apprehensive now the surgery is looming we are also tremendously excited at the prospect of seeing Evie take her first steps, something we know she has longed for and we have dreamed of for a very long time.

"We are extremely pleased and very proud to announce that our beautiful daughter will be having her life-changing operation.

"It's truly unbelievable and as a family we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Mr Poole said Evie's mum Jayne first became aware of her cerebral palsy just before her first birthday.

"When we were told she had cerebral palsy it just hit me like a ton of bricks. It was a huge shock."

Jayne added: "Evie began physiotherapy at the Movement Centre in Oswestry and she has grown into a beautiful, vibrant, confident child who lights up any room."

Enough money has been raised for the operation but with some funds still required to pay for Evie's extensive physiotherapy.

Evie's grandfather Jim Poole, said: "As far as Market Drayton and the people are concerned I cannot praise them enough. We could never have imagined that six months down the line we would be in this position.

"But we have to continue. The fund is anything but closed because we still need to pay for the intensive physiotherapy."

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