This in from Southern Water, in their own words. Ed
Two-year-old Chelsea Turner was born 11 weeks early with extensive brain damage which left her blind and with cerebral palsy affecting her whole body.
Despite these challenges, Chelsea and her parents Matt and Angie, from Sandown, are battling not only to give her as normal a life as possible, but also to help other families in a similar situation.
With Chelsea’s interaction with the world limited by her blindness, Matt and Angie are creating a sensory nursery and garden at their home to help stimulate her.
Help from tradesmen
They are seeking help from tradesmen who may be able to help with the construction to allow them to spend as much as possible on the nursery’s interior.
Southern Water supplier Clancy Docwra has already offered to dig the footings for the building which, once complete, will be available to other children on the Island with similar conditions.
Chosen charity for employees
The charity has been chosen by Southern Water’s employees on the Isle of Wight as one of the beneficiaries of their fundraising efforts for last year and this year.
Matt said:
“The help we have had from the community on the island has been amazing and to have Southern Water supporting us has been incredible – we were not expecting anything like this.
“It means Chelsea will have somewhere she can learn to see, touch and feel. But it’s not just for her. We have learned a lot through Chelsea and her condition and want to help other children and their families on the island so we’re so excited about doing it.”
Southern Water distribution inspector Chris Weeks has been central to the company’s fundraising drive.
He took part in a banger race to Barcelona with his father Nick last year, raising £1,300. That figure was boosted by a £500 match-funding donation by the company to bring the total raised to £1,800 so far.
Chris said:
“Chelsea and her family are an inspiration and we’ll do anything we can to help.”
This year, Chris has set up his own banger rally from Land’s End to John O’ Groats in aid of Chelsea’s Wishes. To find out more and sign up, visit www.chelseaschallenge.co.uk
For more information on Chelsea’s Wishes, visit www.chelseaswishes.org.uk
