Miss J was born at 24 weeks weighing 1 lb 8 oz, she fought a long battle of collapsed lungs, infection, temperature control problems ....the list goes on. She was very quickly diagnosed with a profound hearing loss and soon after diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The outlook for her life was not a very good as doctors suspected that she would never communicate or be mobile ........ha they have never met a Hyslop!!
Miss J first met Amanda and the ponies at Chariots of Fire in 2010 and has never looked back. With Amanda's guidance, carriage driving as done so much for her and it continues to do so much. The lessons are invaluable to her physical development and mental well-being. The whole team at COF have became like a second family to her and it is wonderful to witness how much her health has improved.
Miss J's Mum is convinced that it is through carriage driving that Miss J has begun to walk. "Carriage driving has done wonders for her co-ordination and rhythm, which cerebral palsy knocks out. It’s amazing how the driving has strengthened her body and her mobility has improved. The condition means it’s her main core muscles –round her tummy- that are totally floppy. That meant she could not sit up or roll or crawl until a lot later than other children. The difference to her abdominal area is just amazing, she is so much stronger there now."
Miss J has been asking for a long time how she can help raise funds for her pony Dougal ...so Mum and her have both decided that she will take on a massive challenge.
On 9 + 10 of July Miss J will be doing a massive ride and drive challenge from her home in Dumfries to Annan, then from Annan to Chariots of Fire in Boreland - on safe routes this is over 35 miles. She has been training hard, learning to ride under the tuition of Louise Kaiholm and can now easily manage 40 minutes in the saddle - an incredible achievement for Miss J who is very determined as well as courageous.
Please sponsor Miss J!
