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A renovated garden together with a new home gym is helping to make Ellice Barr's post-surgery therapy regime a little more exciting.
The seven-year-old from Deal has cerebral palsy and dreamed of being able to walk like her friends.
She underwent selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery to help remove the spasticity in her legs in July last year and has been attending physiotherapy sessions with Ben Stroud of Whitecliffs Crossfit three times a week.
Now, thanks to remaining funds from her original £65,000 appeal, plus an extra £1,500 from Millwall and West Ham fans and £5,500 from the Friends of Shelby Newstead, the Downs Primary School pupil can now work on strengthening her legs at home in Magness Road, Deal.
The new level outdoor area, complete with artificial grass and raised beds is also the perfect spot for the little girl to play with her older brother, Jay.
Dad Joe Barr said: “Ellice now spends more time than ever in the garden now that it’s no longer uneven.
"She has been standing at her new raised bedding planting flowers.
“Due to her spending more time on her feet in the garden, she is getting stronger in her ankles and is now regularly waking completely unaided.
“Her home gym is helping with this too. She loves being on her crosstrainer.”
Mum Amy Barr added: “We still can believe how lucky we are and how people still want to help Ellice.
“The amount of support via social media Ellice has also been unbelievable. Her weekly updates get views and responses in the hundreds.
“A massive thank you to everyone who helped fundraise to make a little girl’s Wish to Walk a possibility.”
A special thanks goes to The Friends of Shelby Newstead (FoSN) who discovered Ellice’s campaign via KentOnline.
The charity based in Culverstone is named after Shelby, 23, who beat neuroblastoma at just nine months old in 1996.
It was set up by her parents, David and Sally, to help those who suffer from similar illnesses and hardships and has since raised more than £850,000, with Shelby nominated for a Pride of Britain Award in 2016.
