Team James supporters walked from Papamoa East to Mount Maunganui and back yesterday to raise money for their little boy. Photo / Andrew Warner
Team James supporters walked from Papamoa East to Mount Maunganui and back yesterday to raise money for their little boy. Photo / Andrew Warner
Blisters and burning muscles did not stop Team James supporters walking 50km to raise more money for their little boy.
Five-year-old James suffers from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He also has hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and epilepsy. Most people with the condition cannot walk and their speech is profoundly affected. Their limbs can be extremely stiff, yet their neck is floppy. Seizures are common.
Team James supporters set out from Papamoa East about 7am yesterday to walk to Mount Maunganui and back with buckets collecting funds for the little boy who needs to travel to the US for an operation.
Mrs Reid said about 25 people had joined in on the walk, with her husband committing to a surprise 50km bike ride and a 40km run.
James Reid has quadriplegia cerebral palsy and needs to get to the US for an operation.
"We're pretty shattered, but I am just really over the moon with who came in and supported us, all our good mates who did this for James. It's very humbling."
Mrs Reid said it was awesome to be able to complete the 50km after only planning on doing 25km to start with.
James's aunty Leanne Barnett said her family had been able to raise about $500 on their legs of the walk.
"There were five of us in our team doing 75km together. We love James, he's such a cutie. He always says to me 'Aunty Leanne the van' because we have a people mover which he loves going in."
Mrs Barnett said the community support had restored her faith in humanity.
"People just walked up to us and gave us money. We were just walking back to the car and we got another $30. People are so generous and giving."
Thanks to the support of the Tauranga community, donations on James's Givealittle page have already reached more than $60,000 to help him on his way to get an operation called selective percutaneous myofascial lengthening.
This would avoid further contractures (stiffness of his muscles and tendons), and reduce the need for more surgeries in the future.
But his family have estimated they will need $150,000 for the trip.
The total raised by all the walkers who took part was not yet known when the Bay of Plenty Times went to print last night.
Other fundraisers have included the launch of the cookbook produced by Maketu Masterchef sisters Karena and Kasey Bird, a swim from Motit Island to Maketu, and donations on his Givealittle page.
