Fareham girl raises money for charity which helped little brother

Abi and Rosie Hughes held a cake sale to raise funds the Melanie Braysher Trust which is helping with Brandons treatment for severe scoliosis. They raised ?212 from sales of cakes and donations. Further donations can be made to the trust at their Virgin Money and Just Giving donation pages. " LtoR, Rosie, 12, Abi, 10 and Brandon, 19months in his 'baby go-kart'. Picture Credit: Keith Woodland.

The 10-year-old organised a cake sale at her school to get donations for the Melanie Braysher Trust, which supports children with disabilities.

The charity stepped in and gave Abi’s 19-month-old brother Brandon a specially-adapted wheelchair as he suffers from scoliosis and other health issues.

The chair, which costs around £600, moves with the slightest of pushes so Brandon, who cannot stand or support himself, can move around freely.

Abi, who attends Crofton Anne Dale Junior School in Fareham, also has scoliosis but did not let it stop her wanting to help others.

She said: ‘When Brandon got his wheelchair I wanted to say thank you to the charity.

‘I asked my headteacher if I could do a cake sale and they said yes. It went well and from the cake sale and relatives giving money, I raised £212. I was really happy with that.’

Abi and her older sister Rosie baked the cakes and made around 250 in total.

Rosie, 12, has scoliosis too and in December had an operation to fit a metal rod and 23 bolts into her back.

The curvature of her spine was only noticed after Brandon got his diagnosis.

It means in the past 18 months all three children in the Fareham family have been diagnosed with the condition.

Mum Sharon said: ‘We were told it was more unlucky that all three children had scoliosis rather than genetic.

‘I am so proud of Abi for raising the money and for Rosie helping her. They care so much for Brandon.’

When Brandon was born he had a series of health problems and was in and out of hospital.

In August, doctors realised his stomach was in the wrong place and had crushed his diaphragm muscle.

Sharon added: ‘He had an operation to pull his stomach back down and he recovered. Then, shortly afterwards he was rushed back into hospital and had to have another operation.

‘As he was getting better we realised he couldn’t take any weight on his arms and legs. It was then he was diagnosed with scoliosis.’

Whereas Rosie has had an operation to fix the curve in her spine, Brandon is too little and is growing too quickly for the procedure. If he had it, he would have to have it re-done every six months.

Sharon said: ‘We are hoping he will be fitted with a brace which will try and help with the curvature.’