A young Newtownbutler mother whose 14-year daughter is a wheelchair user, having become a quadraplegic after contracting cerebral palsy, is running this year's Enniskillen 10k to help raise funds for the new Children's Hospice at Killadeas.
Geraldine Graham, from Newtonwbutler will be joined in the run by her sisters, Fionnuala Kerr and Chrissie Lynch and, speaking to the 'Herald' last week, with Tasha at her side, she spoke of her special daughter and about the benefits that a hospice catering for young people with a life-limited medical condition.
Until then, Geraldine receives respite care which she values highly and, Tasha attends Elmbrook School where she gets physio and hydrotherapy, both of which he adores.
Tasha also suffers from a condition that means she has the mental age of a child of 3 or four months, and has little eyesight.
But, in the bright side, she's an avid ipod user, preferring music and talking books. It is obvious there is a very close bond between mother and daughter.
"I look after her myself, although my mother, Joyce lives only 5 minutes away and my sisters also live near. They will be running the 10k with me and they'll be getting the sponsorship money as well.
"At the moment I'm using the Hospice from Home service. It's a life saver. They phone me every week to see what hours I want. The hospice nurse, Kay (Elliott) is brilliant. It's just like one of the family coming in to help. That's how good Kay is.
"Tasha's future prospects? - We haven't any. We take it day by day.
"One day she's fine, and the next day she's at death's door with some type of infection".
But, that aside, it's a happy set-up, and Geraldine is nowhere happier than when she's out walking or exercising on her cross-trainer.
"The 10k is about 6 miles, which I've never run before. I couldn't run to save my life, but I would walk about 5 miles a day and, if the weather is bad, I use the cross-trainer.
"Usually I do two and half hours, with breaks now and again. But, even if's a good day, I would do an hour to strengthen my back because it's hard pushing a wheelchair uphill. This time last year, I couldn't have done it".
When the new children's hospice is up and running, Geraldine is looking forward to Tasha receiving treatments such as reflexology and aromatherapy and, for herself, 'de-stress' massage, although as she explained, walking provides her with enough 'de-stress'.
Readers who would like to help Geraldine in her fund-raising venture can get a sponsorship form from the NI Hospice at 90 781836, or they can go online at www.nihospicecare.com. Alternatively they can make a donation on line by clicking on the 'building blocks appeal' and following the instructions.
Some 750 children/young people living across Northern Ireland have life-limiting illnesses. Like Tasha, they have very special care needs.
The new Children's Hospice is estimated to cost £334,000 of which £134,00 to date has been raised.
