19-year-old completes second epic fundraising quest

Children travel from all over the UK to be treated at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

19-year-old Maddison has been travelling from Lincolnshire to receive specialist treatment at Sheffield Children’s since she was 14 years old. On the 15th July, she completed her second epic fundraising challenge when she climbed the O2 in London in aid of The Children’s Hospital Charity, the charity that supports Sheffield Children’s.

The Children’s Hospital Charity has a whole range of fundraising events across the UK, from inflatable runs, theme park runs and marathons, for Charity supporters from far and wide who want to give back. 

Maddison was diagnosed with a curvature of the spine, known as scoliosis, in March 2019. She received treatment from the Paediatric Limb Reconstruction Service (PLRS) at Sheffield Children’s and has had four surgeries to improve the condition. She previously fundraised an amazing £1000 for the Charity, arranging a special float at the Cleethorpes Carnival and was shortlisted as fundraiser of the year for the BBC’s ‘Make a Difference Award’.

Sheffield Children’s is one of just three standalone specialist children’s hospitals in the UK, providing the best possible care for children living in Yorkshire, the UK and beyond. Maddison’s mum, Rachel Harrington explained why people travel to be treated at Sheffield Children’s: “The support we had from Maddison’s consultant Mr. Fernandes and the PLRS team was amazing. They were so lovely and made us feel really at ease. Mr. Fernandes has taught all over the world and I know people come from all over to be treated by him. He even wrote about Maddison in one of his journals.”

Maddison returned to Sheffield Children’s for another surgery in January this year, where she had an anterior spinal fusion with Mr. Lee Breakwell, a Consultant Spinal Surgeon at Sheffield Children’s, who has a special research interest in early onset scoliosis. A spinal fusion surgery joins two or more vertebrae together by placing a section of bone in the space between them, along with metal implants, aiming to straighten and fix the spine to prevent deterioration of the curve, and future pain.

Maddison’s new fundraising challenge has really helped to motivate her recovery from surgery. Mum, Rachel, said: “It’s still soon after the surgery but the spinal fusion does seem to have helped. Maddison was lucky to only have a small curve in her spine, but she finds it really noticeable, and it affects her mental health. It’s been a tough recovery so far but fundraising for The Children’s Hospital Charity really keeps her motivated and gives her something to focus on. She’s so thrilled to have climbed the O2 – it's really inspired her to work on her recovery.”

Maddison’s mum, Rachel Harrington, said: “As much as Maddison struggles, she realises there are others that struggle more, and it really drives her to want to help however she can. Climbing the O2 has been a big challenge for her but she knows that her fundraising will have such an impact for others like her at Sheffield Children’s.”

Taking part in a Charity event is not just about fundraising, it's about making a real difference for young people like Maddison. Charity fundraisers have a huge impact in helping provide life-saving equipment, new facilities, environment transformations and vital research at Sheffield Children's.

The Children’s Hospital Charity have a variety of exciting fundraising events happening in Yorkshire and beyond for supporters to get involved in, including an Inflatable Run, taking place in Lincolnshire on the 13th July. Brilliant for families, it features 32 giant inflatables to jump, climb and bounce to 5k, all while raising vital funds for Sheffield Children's.

Find out more here: tchc.org.uk/lincolnshire-inflatable-run

If you’d like to donate to Maddison's fundraiser, visit: tchc.org.uk/maddisons-fundraising