Elpitha Badger, an ICT Support Lead at NECS tells us what has inspired her to take part in this year’s Great North Run, and what the charity means to her and her family.
“Heel and Toe Children’s Charity holds a very special place in my heart, because it’s changing my daughter’s life.
“My little girl, who is 2 and half years old has hypotonia, which means she has low muscle tone. Every movement that comes so easily to other children, sitting, standing, walking, is an enormous challenge for her. She simply doesn’t have the strength…yet, but that’s where Heel and Toe has stepped in and become a lifeline for us.
“We’ve been incredibly lucky to access life-changing therapies at the charity’s centre in Pelton, County Durham, including, Hydrotherapy, Hippotherapy, Physiotherapy and Rebound Therapy. All these treatments are aimed at building her strength, one small step at a time. When we started this journey, she wasn’t even sitting up by herself. That was just in September 2024, now, she’s standing and walking with support.
“That’s why I’ve decided to run the Great North Run and the Great North 10K to raise money for the charity. I started training in November, and before that, I’d never ran in my life. Not even a little bit. I wasn’t a runner, and it hasn’t been easy. But I’ve kept going, following programs like Couch to 5K and I’ve now run up to 14K! I’m still pushing forward, one step at a time, just like my daughter does every single day. Running has made me mentally so much stronger, the thoughts I once had that said ”this kilometre is going to be too long” or ” you are too tired to do this”, I now know how to manage. I use my running time to switch off from what’s going on around me and focus on my health and wellbeing.
“When it gets tough, I think of her, and I keep going. Because she inspires me.
“I first found the charity while I was on maternity leave with my second child. I honestly can’t imagine where we’d be without them. Some of the therapies are funded entirely by donations and fundraising, others come at a reduced cost, again thanks to the generosity of supporters. My daughter and I even took part in the BBC Look North campaign to share just how vital their Hydrotherapy pool has been to her progress.
“What’s even more incredible is that Heel and Toe receives no government funding. They provide essential therapy every single day to children across the North East who live with physical disabilities and complex needs, and they do it thanks to people like you and me, who choose to help.
“If you’re considering fundraising or volunteering for a charity and good cause, I can’t recommend Heel and Toe enough. You can arrange a visit to see the centre, meet the team, and speak to other parents like me who’ve seen the difference they make.
“I would be grateful if you could support my fundraising for this amazing charity, which will allow them to continue to help children. You can donate here all donations are greatly appreciated. If you would like to follow my progress, then please feel free to follow me on Instagram @elpithab
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Future Services Programme (FSP) team, who are part of the BIS/ICT Service Delivery in NECS, for the support they have gave me since the start of this journey, and that I continue to receive. It is appreciated.”