Betsy's lift to Independence

We’re fundraising for Betsy so she can have a much needed lift installed in her home, giving her the personal independence that many of us take for granted each day. Betsy’s parents, Beth & Chris are extremely proud of their daughter and her amazing achievements but they’re also extremely proud people who would've never asked for fundraising help themselves. That's why we - a group of family friends are taking this fundraiser into our hands to support them and Betsy with the Battle she fights every day.

Betsy has Cerebral Palsy and can’t walk. She was born in Barnsley hospital in 2014 after an extremely traumatic labour after being starved of oxygen for 16 minutes and was taken straight to the intensive care unit at Jessops in Sheffield, where Chris (Dad) spent the next 17 days by her bedside whilst mum Beth recovered in Barnsley hospital from the complications she endured during labour. Betsy came out of intensive care but the impact of being starved of oxygen for so long was not known at the time.

Betsy was such a happy and content baby but as certain expected milestones arrived, she didn’t meet them and the extent of the trauma at her birth was soon realised. Always, undeterred and determined her parents, asked questions, sought answers and attended every appointment that they could to help Betsy. They hired a private physio to work with her on improving her physical core strength and Betsy too never gave up, spending hours doing exercises and in her walker when it was so hard for her.

Specialists told Beth and Chris that if Betsy hadn’t walked by the time she was 4 that she wouldn’t walk. Sadly, they had to realise that this was the case, and as a family, they had to think about how best to move forward. They considered moving to a bungalow but when weighing up the benefits of having family and friends nearby to help with childcare, Betsy's school being so close and their love for the area they decided that adapting their own home would be better for them all. They have adapted their home, and their furniture and bought specialist equipment to support Betsy in every way that they have been able.

Betsy is now 8 years old and just loves life. She is a big sister to brother Bohdi who absolutely adores her and is always on hand to help and support her. Betsy is the most amazing little girl; her smile lights up any room, and her parent's sheer determination has always rubbed off on her with every challenge being something she'll try to achieve. She's very smart and is excelling at her school where she's very popular and has lots of friends who accept her differences entirely as qualities. Betsy never complains and is such a credit to Beth and Chris who are her number one protectors and supporters.

Beth & Chris both work full-time in demanding jobs and although they've received a grant from the Council and they've been saving up for years there's still a way to go to have enough funds to pay for the life-changing equipment to be installed in their home. They've had planning permissions secured since 2020 but because the funds for the work haven't quite been raised and work hasn’t been able to start that permission is due to expire later this year. We hope that through this page and the other fund-raising activities that we can get them the remaining amount of the funds that they need!

For Betsy the independence that the lift will bring will be lifechanging, Beth and Chris will no longer have to carry her upstairs, something which is becoming more difficult as Betsy gets older and is becoming more upsetting for Betsy as she really wants and needs her independence, as she tells you in the video that we've shared.

We truly appreciate that times are hard for so many families and money doesn’t go as far as it used to but if you are in a position to make a donation to Betsy then please do. Let’s give this incredible little girl and her family the help that they need x