Family fun day to help little Rachel

Family fun day to help little Rachel

29 November 2023

A KILLYLEAGH mum is hosting a fundraising event this Saturday to help her daughter get a better quality of life.

Katie Jennings has said that “everyone is welcome” to attend a family fun day at the Bridge Centre, Killyleagh, from 11am to 2pm, with all the money raised contributing towards her daughter Rachel’ Gribben’s brain surgery.

Little Rachel, who suffers from a severe form of chronic epilepsy and needs medication, suffers from multiple seizures a day.

The three year-old was diagnosed with Focal Cortical Dysplasia of the right frontal lobe of her brain in October 2022. 

“It’s been really hard for Rachel and our family,” said Katie.

“Her seizures have no triggers or warnings, which leaves her very vulnerable when she is out and about.

“Her seizures have meant that any developments she has made have regressed.”

Katie is looking to raise £20,000 to take Rachel to Western Ukraine for surgery to remove a lesion on Rachel’s brain that is causing her seizures.

“The idea of the surgery isn’t for her to be seizure-free, but it’s to give Rachel a better quality of life and stop her development from regressing any further,” said Katie.

The fun day promises to have something for everyone.Santa Claus will be visiting from the North Pole to make sure that the Grinch doesn’t ruin the fun for everyone.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse will also be in attendance to spread the Christmas cheer for all to hear.

The fun-day will have a bouncy castle, face painting, arts and crafts, people  and a group of vikings to help explore the other range of activities.

The fun-day is sponsored by the Spar in Killyleagh and each family will only have to pay £5 to enter the fun-day and enjoy all the activities on offer for free with the exception of ‘guess how many sweets are in the jar’.

“It’s been a lot of work but the generosity of people thus far has been absolutely amazing,” said Katie. 

“People from all over have gotten in touch about fundraising for Rachel’s surgery – we’ve been taken a back by the kindness of strangers.

“Less than a month ago we’d raised just over £1,000 and now we are up to £6,500, it has been absolutely incredible and I want to thank the whole community – we are looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday.”

Rachel is due to have her surgery at the end of March next year, with more fundraising events to come between now and then.

Anyone wishing to make a donation for Rachel to get her surgery can do so at https://gofund.me/8a55df9f. 

You can also follow Rachel’s journey on Facebook by following s://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094624962472.