Branch’s treatment fund boost for little Freddie

18 May 2018

A toddler born with a rare genetic condition is set to benefit from a course of specialist therapy sessions, with the help of customers and staff at a Leek United branch.

Manager Sheila Kirk and her team at the Society’s Derby Street office in Leek have spent the last five months running a series of fundraising events to support the family of little Freddie Malkin, aged two.

Together, they have raised £1,182.41, which will now be put towards the cost of sending Freddie for regular sessions at The Movement Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire – a specialist facility dedicated to helping children with a disability affecting their movement to reach their full potential.

Freddie suffers from lissencaphely, which presents many problems and obstacles for him, including: epilepsy, hypertonic limbs, hypotonic core, developmental delay; he also has a rare chromosome deletion.

His mum Natasha, of Leek, said: “Freddie will attend The Movement Centre every eight weeks over the course of a year, and they’ll work with us to develop a daily regime, to help him with his general mobility.

“We’d like to thank Leek United and everyone else who continues to support us; it’s completely overwhelming, and I can’t walk through the town with Freddie without someone stopping us to chat and wish us well. We really are grateful!”

Fundraising events organised by Leek United’s Derby Street team included a book sale, tombola, and a raffle with a signed Stoke City Football Club shirt as the star prize.

Sheila added: “Everyone in Leek knows or has heard of Freddie, and there have been no end of people coming into the branch with donations. We’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has supported our fundraising for their generosity.”

Picture caption: Freddie Malkin and mum Natasha receive the donation from Leek United’s Derby Street Branch team (from left) Sheila Kirk, Dani Barrow, Bev Northcott, Hannah Bradshaw, Anita Wort and Bev Scragg.