A weekend of events is being held raising funds for charities that support a Whiteley family.
Julie Gooch, Lisa MacGregor and Liz Roberts prepare for the walk
Residents in Whiteley will be walking and abseiling for charities that support Michael and Haanagh Smith and their three-year-old twin boys Reuben and Zachary who were born prematurely at 29 weeks and have severe disabilities.
Reuben was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and Zachary is severely deaf, has had meningitis twice and has also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The married couple, of Saffron Way, who also have an elder son Harry, nine, take Reuben to the Rainbow Centre in Fareham for support.
The family recently had their house transformed by BBC television show DIY SOS, which provided facilities adapting the house for the boys’ disabilities.
Tomorrow morning (May 11) 50 women will be trekking across fields and mud from Winchester to Whiteley in ‘Ramble for Reuben’ a walking event to raise money for the youngster who has recently had a procedure for intensive physiotherapy.
See the Smith family talking about their fundraising in this film
Organiser Lisa MacGregor and Liz Roberts are regular walkers and wanted a challenge to help their friends the Smith family. They hope to raise double the £3,000 needed for a year of physiotherapy for Reuben.
Lisa said: “It’s all about additional funds for Reuben to get the treatment he needs. The NHS is fantastic in what it has provided but there are additional funds needed.
“It’s going to be great. The only thing we can’t control is the weather, everything else is sorted. We want to thank Tony Froude, who has planned the route, and will be the only man walking with us. Without him it wouldn’t be possible.”
Haanagh, 34, said: “This walk is for Reuben but Zachary also has cerebral palsy and will need language therapy. Fundraising almost has become a way of life for us and it always will be. We just want to extend our thanks to everyone and it’s very humbling to know people go out their way to the benefit of our family.
“If it wasn’t for the help of people like these we couldn’t get anything we needed. This is why Whiteley is such a fantastic community and everyone comes together for a purpose.”
David Jenkins and Reuben Smith
David Jenkins, and Matthew Mullins will take a frightful challenge by abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth for The Rainbow Centre in Fareham, a children’s charity which Reuben attends.
Mr Jenkins, the vice chairman of the parish council, and Mr Mullins, who is a captain of an Isle of Wight Ferry, wanted to support he children’s charity that helps the Smith family.
“From the work they had done I got to know them quite well and it all spiralled from there,” said Mr Jenkins, 44, who works as a compliance manager for a bank.
“I like helping people and it’s a worthy cause. They’re a lovely family and they deserve every piece of help people can provide for them to enjoy life as much as possible.
“If it means me giving up some of my time to help them, then that’s great.
“I did the Spinnaker Tower a few years ago for the Stroke Association. I fell off the platform to start with and hit the side. We had plastic over-shoe covers so it was rather slippery. They don’t do that now.
Haanagh, Reuben, Harry, Mike and Zachary Smith
“Hopefully I won’t fall out this time. Heights aren’t the best of things for me.”
Haanagh added: “The Rainbow Centre needs funds to be able to function and without them Reuben and other children wouldn’t be able to get the support. Without The Rainbow Centre Reuben wouldn’t have developed as well as he has done.”
The men will be hoisted over the ledge of the tower on sunday (May 12) to take the tricky route down to the ground with a hope of raising more than £1,000 altogether.
For more details on the charity fundraising see www.forreuben.com
