by Graham Tutthill

Mercury readers have come to the aid of a young girl who needs specialist medical equipment, not available on the NHS.

The plight of Grace Taylor, who is 17 months old, was featured in the Dover Mercury.

She urgently needs a head brace to keep her head upright as one side of it is flat, not curved.

It’s a painful disability and, if left untreated, will leave her head permanently tilted to one side.

Her family and friends have already raised £1,000 towards the cost of the brace – which is not available on the NHS – but another £1,500 is still needed.

Five people have also sent in substantial cheques since reading the story in the Mercury.

And now staff at the Tesco store in Whitfield have organised a special fundraising day. They were wearing fancy dress, or their own clothes, to work, and paying £1 for the privilege. Customers also had the chance to donate.

“We read the story and were so moved by Grace’s plight we decided we wanted to help,” said store manager Scott Janaway.

Born with a condition called sternomastoid torticollis, Grace needs the brace within the next few months as her head muscles will eventually not respond to the treatment.

The little girl, who lives with her family at Bunkers Hill Avenue, Dover, is being seen by specialists at Lewisham Hospital.

Friends, neighbours and Dover shopkeepers have already been fundraising. Cyclists made a sponsored ride from Dover to Deal Pier and back.

Grace’s mum Tracey said she was very grateful to everyone.
There is more information on the website www.embrace-grace.viviti.com/