A MAJOR campaign is underway to help a Winchester girl have life-changing surgery in the USA.(major cash boost) As reported in the Echo last week (September 3), five-year-old Jemima Syvret was born with cerebral palsy and needs surgery and intense physiotherapy ton her spine so that she can eventually walk on her own.

Now, supported by her parents, Jo and Andrew, of Norlands Drive, Otterbourne, Jemima is one step closer to achieving her goal with the help of a very generous benefactor, the Barker-Mill Foundation.

After hearing of Jemima’s condition, the charity was quick to act, donating a whopping £10,000 to her cause which trustee, Tim Jobling, hopes will help Jemima in the long term.

He said: “When we heard Jemima’s story in the Daily Echo, we knew we wanted to do all we can to help her family raise the much-needed funds.

“The surgery can potentially change this little girl’s life, and we are really pleased that we can be a part of making it happen. We really hope the donation raises further awareness of Jemima’s campaign, encouraging further support to help them reach their target figure.” The surgery involves severing nerves in the base of Jemima’s spine that currently send incorrect messages to her legs, leaving only the “correct nerves” to send the right ones. After being told that strict UK (NHS) criteria (ruled out because ..would not enable Jemima’s quadriplegia to be considered, the family’s only option was to look abroad.

Mrs Syvret, 39, explained: “The outcome for diplegics (both arms or both legs) is more predictable and the results can appear as a cure. With quadraglegics (both arms and legs), there are more issues and success is harder to measure.”

The family need to raise £90,000 to cover the full costs of the surgery, flights, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, and have raised over £20,000 so far. Jo has sold nearly £1,000 worth of home-made footsteps bracelets, while dad, Andrew, joins 20 businessmen from around Hampshire to row around the Isle of Wight on September 30. Even Jemima’s older brother Oli, 8, is doing a mini-triathlon in October.

Mr Andrew Syvret said: “We are so grateful to Tim and for the donation from the Barker-Mill Foundation. We want her to have the chance to do more and the donation is bringing us closer to making that happen.”

To make a donation or find out more about Jemima’s campaign, please contact jemimasjourney@gmail.com, visit http://www.jemimasjourney.co.uk/ and donate to www.justgiving.com/Treeofhope-Jemimas-Journey.