A mother whose son was left paralysed from the chest down is holding a second fund-raising charity ball to support the spinal unit who treat him and a charity that provides hope of a cure.
Waverton woman Leonie Hallam’s 31-year-old son Mathew was involved in a serious road accident in August, 2014, along with two friends as they walked from the popular Denbigh and Flint Show.
The collision left Mathew, from Bodfari, Denbighshire, with multiple injuries as well as paralysis meaning he must now use a wheelchair.
Mum Lee felt helpless until seeing a Panorama programme about Polish man Darek Fidyka who learned to walk again with a frame thanks to the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation (NSIF) founded by David Nicholls whose son was left paralysed 10 years ago following a swimming accident in Australia.
Lee, who runs events and artist management company Aardvarker, hopes to surpass the success of a ball she organised in 2015 which raised nearly £5,000 split between NSIF and The Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Gobowen, where Mathew must attend for the rest of his life.
She said: “I have my own personal reasons for doing this but I have learned such a lot about what people, who have often suffered such simple accidents, have to put up with.
“It’s been a massive education and last year’s event was such a great social event. I think it’s a really good passive way of raising money for important causes that can be overlooked.”
Lee is extremely proud of her son, an agricultural consultant, who has now designed a specially-adapted tractor. He and Winsford agricultural dealer John Bownes approached engineer Andrew Stubbs to turn the vision into a fully adapted Valtra tractor which won ‘Machinery Innovator of the Year’ award at The British Farming Awards.
This year’s event is a black tie Moulin Rouge Ball with three course dinner, at Chester’s Doubletree by Hilton on Saturday, September 24, 2016. Tickets are priced £55 or £500 for tables of 10.
The 2015 guests, including Mathew and family, were greeted with personal video messages from NSIF patrons; former England cricketer Allan Lamb, former event rider Claire Lomas, ex-England rugby union player Will Greenwood and TV adventurer Bear Grylls.
Charity chief executive Mike Milner commented: “We were delighted with Aardvarker’s Midsummer Ball last year in aid of NSIF. This year Leonie is offering yet further support by hosting another ball to raise money and spread awareness about spinal cord injury. Her passion and dedication shine through, as is evident from her continued alliance with our cause.
“The money raised goes towards funding ground-breaking research, in the hope that paralysis from spinal cord injury will some day be a thing of the past.”
Lee hopes NSIF may one day include her son in its future trials which involve intense rehabilitation and cell transplantation.
Mathew, who is from her first marriage, is engaged to Elinor Lloyd and they have a three-year-old son Jac.
Elinor has been ‘fantastic’ support but Mathew’s two younger siblings have also played their part by raising more than £1,000 for a motorised third wheel for his wheelchair. Brother Luke, 16, completed a four-day trek in the Pennines and sister Charlotte, 11, rode the world’s longest and fastest zip wire at Bethesda, North Wales.
Raffle and auction prizes are currently being sought for the Moulin Rouge Ball. In addition, corporate tables with bespoke advertising packages are available.
Tickets from www.aardvarker.com or contact info@aardvarker.com.
