AN ECKINGTON fund-raiser is asking the public to support a top Midlands motorsports event which will help raise vital funds for a disabled children’s charity.
Antonia Payne-Cheney has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a condition which saw her hospitalised for three years after she suddenly became ill in March 2012, at the age of 14.
The 21-year-old received support from Caudwell Children, the national charity which provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families.
The charity provided her with more than £29,000 of funding to secure a state of the art wheelchair which allowed her to escape the confines of hospital and return home.
Despite undergoing several major operations Antonia remains a permanent wheelchair user.
Now Antonia is urging the public to support the Chateau Impney Hill Climb, after it named Caudwell Children as its charity partner for the next three years.
The event, which will see a full programme of classic car racing around a challenging, hilly, course set in the grounds of the majestic Louis XIII-style Grade II listed chateau in Droitwich Spa, will take place on Saturday July 13 and and Sunday, July 14.
“There are loads of things to do if you’re not into cars; like a military grade climbing wall, a free Vintage Fun Fair, exceptional dining, shopping and hospitality,” said Antonia.
“You can also go off-road inside a tank, on a custom built track, and with VIP experiences and a host of independent food offerings there really is something for everyone.
“But importantly ticket holders will be encouraged to make a donation to Caudwell Children to enable them to continue supporting children and young people like me.”
Sam Walker from Caudwell Children is also encouraging people to buy tickets.
“We’re extremely excited to be involved in the Hill Climb as it give us the opportunity to have a highly visible presence at the event,” she said.
“We will have an exhibition stand and a team of staff and volunteers around the site, which will allow us to introduce our services to a new audience.
“Ticket holders will also be able to make a donation to the charity in the traditional way, with cash, or through ‘Tap and Go’ with their debit or credit card.”
Antonia said the public’s support would be vital in helping disabled children in the region.
“My wheelchair was designed specifically for my condition and it finally allowed me to get out and about, both in hospital and in my community. Finally I was able to move back home as the chair gave me the mobility to get around my newly adapted house.
“The wheelchair effectively ended three years of isolation for me just when I needed to experience the outside world again, which had been totally inaccessible to me over the previous three years.”
Since returning home Antonia has become and ambassador for Caudwell Children and helped local schoolchildren understand EDS. She has also provided training to the charity’s volunteers so that they can support others with the condition.
Visit www.chateaimpneyhillclimb.com/buy-tickets for more.
