Bonnie's new legs - Run for Bonnie

I am asking for you to help me to raise money for a beautiful 2-year old girl called Bonnie Turpin who has cerebral palsy spastic diplegia.

An operation that can give Bonnie a wonderful future does exist. The treatment is only available in the USA, so she needs approximately $130,000 for everything to get her on her two feet.

I am running the Auckland Marathon to help raise some more money to help Bonnie reach the States.

This will be my first marathon ever.

About my run

I have signed up for the Auckland Marathon this year to fundraise money for an operation which should give Bonnie a chance to walk and even run someday.

This will be my first marathon ever and my Goals are:

Goal #1: To raise as much money as possible for Bonnie– Please make your donations NOW here on her Give a Little page - https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/running4bonniesnewlegs

Goal #2: Start the marathon (and raise money for Bonnie)

Goal #3: Complete the marathon (and raise more money for Bonnie)

Goal #4: Run the whole marathon without stopping (and raise money for Bonnie)

Goal #5: Complete the marathon in less than 5 hours (and raise even more money for Bonnie)

About Bonnie and her condition

Bonnie was diagnosed with this condition when she was 18 months old. The lower part of her body doesn’t work very well and because of her stiff muscles she cannot stand or walk.

She needs a lot of help doing everyday things – things that we take for granted. Doing these everyday normal things causes Bonnie a lot of pain.

Her mum and dad are committed and good parents who do exercises and stretches with Bonnie daily. They also get assistance from a physiotherapist and do swimming to help her muscles relax.

Bonnie wears splints every day to help get her feet flat and keep her heels down. The good news is that her mum and dad have found out about a very special operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy that can help Bonnie walk and live an independent life.

Even better news is that Bonnie has been accepted at two different hospitals in the US to get her operation done.

This treatment is not available in New Zealand and Bonnie’s only option is to travel with her mum to the US. The operation itself is $80,000 plus travel and living expenses in the US. They would need further funds to do proper physiotherapy back in New Zealand so Bonnie can finally learn to walk by herself.

Bonnie also has her Facebook where you can learn a bit more - https://www.facebook.com/bonniesnewlegs/