A DETERMINED Rugby police officer is tackling a different kind of adversary to help his spirited five-year-old son live a full and independent life.
PC Joe Shore is taking on the Rugby Half Marathon on Sunday October 1 to raise funds for life-changing therapy for his son Ronnie, who has multiple disabilities including cerebral palsy, epilepsy and dysphagia, and is also registered blind.
Ronnie is fully reliant on Joe and mum Rebecca. His condition affects all of his limbs, and he needs specialist therapy – which is not available on the NHS – to train his body to do what comes naturally to most children.
But time is of the essence, as the ‘fight for Ronnie’s brain’ will become less effective the older he gets – so with help from charity Just4Children, Rebecca and Joe launched the Remarkable Ronnie appeal over three years ago to fund the intensive therapy which has had a profound impact on his development so far.
And with the fund-raising pot running low, they need to raise £7,000 for Ronnie’s next round of therapy at the new Neurological and Physical Abilitation (NAPA) Centre in London.
Joe said: “Ronnie’s treatment is a lifelong mission for us – and the bigger he gets, the harder life will become for him.
“He has come so far in recent years, and because of this intensive therapy he’s now able to do things that he would never otherwise have been able to do.
“He’s still at that age where those muscles and joints that are built up, those neural pathways that are created, will set him up for the rest of his life.
“We have a chance now, while he’s still so young, to achieve so much with his health and we’re really keen to do as much as possible before it becomes more and more difficult to make massive changes as he gets older.
“It’s absolutely imperative that Ronnie continues to access therapy and build on what he has achieved in the last couple of years. He suffered a big step back with progress late last year due to big seizures, but has worked really hard to regain that strength.”
Joe says Ronnie loves going to school, riding his trike and walking his miniature poodle, Rusty. He enjoys a packet of Cheetoes and likes watching Peppa Pig and Justin Fletcher.
His weekly private therapy includes physio with a paediatric physiotherapist, hippotherapy – physio on horseback – and swimming.
Joe added: “The NAPA Centre recommend Ronnie enrols for three weeks of intensive therapy including physio, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. We have already employed some of their techniques and have seen some great results in improving his dexterity.”
“Hundreds of pounds are paid out every week to cover Ronnie’s private therapy, and since we haven’t fundraised for a while, the pot is rapidly diminishing.”
Joe has been putting himself through a tough 16-week training programme so he can give the fund-raising campaign a boost at the Rugby Half Marathon.
“I can’t thank people enough, both colleagues and members of the public, for their generosity in recent years with previous fundraisers,” he said. “Things are difficult for everyone at the moment and I completely appreciate anything at all that people can give.
“Life is really tough for Ronnie, but our plucky five year old continues to smile in the face of adversity. We endeavour to guide our little boy to a greater level of strength and independence. Please help us to help Ronnie on his long journey.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/page/joey-s-1686081623099 to donate.
