This years Fight For Hope will be hosted at Blyth Sports Centre for the third consecutive year. The charity event will take place on the 26th October 2019 and it is in aid of one of Blyth’s biggest miracles, Sophia Welsh.
Sophia suffers from multiple brain conditions such as Hydrocephalus and Holoprosencephaly. These conditions trigger several other conditions, for example: Congenital heart disease, Epilepsy, physical, communication and sensory problems as well as a visual impairment. She was only given a 1% to survive birth and a 0.5% chance to live to six months old. Sophia is now three years old with her fourth birthday coming next month on 19th June. It is safe to say that Sophia has defied all the odds.
Hydrocephalus comes from greek terminology, “Hydro” means water and “cephalus” means head. The condition is where there is excess liquid on the brain causing the space between ventricles to expand, causing pressure on the tissues of the brain.
Holoprosencephaly is an abnormality of the brain. it affects the development of the brain as well as the head and face. Holoprosencephaly occurs when the brain fails to divide properly into the right and left hemispheres.
Due to Sophia’s conditions, it does mean that her parents, Lee and Megan, must get certain apparatus in order to help Sophia, these may be things such as chairs, beds and even toys. with some products having to be specially made, it can be incredibly expensive for Lee and Megan. although they receive a huge amount of help from the NHS, some things are simply too expensive.
This event will allow Sophia to get all of the equipment she needs in order to aid her every day. The event will also help other local charities and other children, especially Sophia’s ‘little boyfriend’ – Tommy Langdown, he also suffers from complex health needs such as epilepsy and respiratory problems.
One of the charities that benefit is Little Miracles which is a group who help disabled children in the North East by providing trips and paying for equipment that families may not be able to afford. The other charity is ManHealthBlyth – a mental health charity which is incredibly close to Lee and Megan after the events that have taken place in the last year, especially losing one of their closest friends, Daryl Smith, who was a regular ambassador of ‘Fight For Hope’.
Due to Lee’s passion for boxing, it was obvious to create an event that he would be passionate about alongside his daughters condition. The event will produce what Lee labels as “proper fights” with all the correct safety guidelines in place.
Not only does the event generate money money for charity but it also boosts the local economy as Lee says in this interview.
A small community all coming together for one special event, over 1000 people will be rammed into Blyth Sports Centre on the 26th October 2019, an event where everybody is fighting for hope.
Please contact us at Blyth News to enquire about tickets.
infographic information: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Hydrocephalus-Fact-Sheet#3125_3
blyth.news.blog 