Cornwall holiday park leads appeal to help brave Izzy walk

Staff and guests at a Cornwall holiday park have joined forces to help an inspirational young girl travel to America for a potentially life-changing operation.

Porth Beach Holiday Park near Newquay has raised over £1,000 towards the cost of sending six-year-old Izzy Pearce for pioneering surgery at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri.

Identical twin Izzy lives with cerebral palsy, and is unable to walk properly or stand unaided.

Her parents, Michael and Ursula from St Columb Major, learned that a procedure known as selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) could make a profound difference to Izzy’s condition.

However, they also discovered the spinal operation was not available via the NHS, and began fundraising last year to enable Izzy to make the journey.

When Chris and Katy Case, managers of Porth Beach, heard about the parents’ Help Izzy Walk appeal, they kick-started the campaign by making the first donation.

Since then, the park and holiday guests have organised a series of fundraising events which have boosted the total even further.

By October, Michael and Ursula had reached their £86,000 target – and this month (January) Izzy flew out to Missouri for her operation.

“We are absolutely delighted that, between our guests and ourselves, we have managed to raise so much for the Help Izzy Walk campaign,” said Chris Case.

“The family has been close friends of ours for many years, so it’s been an absolute pleasure to help in any way possible.

“The spirit that the local community and beyond have shown to raise such a vast amount of money for Izzy has been incredible,” added Chris.

The parents said they were extremely grateful both to Porth Beach and everyone else who contributed so generously to their appeal which remains open.

All money raised over the target will go towards Izzy’s post-op physiotherapy that she will require over the next few years.

Donations can be made on the Help Izzy Walk Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/helpizzywalk