Doting Great Harwood dad to skydive for daughter (From Blackburn Citizen)

Doting Great Harwood dad to skydive for daughter

9:00am Sunday 17th March 2013 in News

A DOTING dad is facing his greatest fear to raise money for two charities that have helped his one-year-old daughter who has cerebral palsy.

Jan Evans, 37, from Great Harwood, is due to skydive to raise £4,000 for The Legacy Rainbow House in Mawdesley, near Chorley and Zoe’s Place in Liverpool where his daughter Neave attends.

Jan, who admits he is terrified of heights, said he also wants the sky dive to help raise awareness of the condition which resulted from Neave, who is now 17-months-old, being unable to breath for 18 minutes at birth.

After her birth her worried parents were told to be prepared that she may not survive and if she did she would be brain damaged.

An MRI scan confirmed she had four limb cerebral palsy, meaning that she had poor muscle tone in her trunk and cannot sit, walk or crawl.

Jan and his wife Maxine, 34, are both carers for their little girl with Maxine giving up her full-time job and Jan starting his own company in order to be more flexible with his time to accommodate their daughter’s needs.

Jan said: “Neave needs one to one care which has meant that we have had to change our lives to revolve around her. It was obviously hard in the first year and sometimes we felt that there was nowhere to turn for help.

“It has been demanding and is because we had no idea what cerebral palsy was until we were slapped in the face with it. Our family and friends find it very hard to understand. So we want to make people feel ok to talk about it.

“Neave receives regular NHS treatments such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. We were put in touch with The Legacy Rainbow House for half day Conductive Therapy on Wednesdays, which works her very hard to fulfil her potential. Their support has been invaluable.

“Neave also goes to Zoe’s Place in Liverpool for a holiday two nights a month, where she gets to go in the hydrotherapy pool and the sensory room.

“Both charities have made a massive difference to us. Neave doesn't sleep for more than three hours a night so the fact Zoe's Place have her stay over two nights a month is a big help.”

The skydive is due to take place weather permitting at the Black Knights Parachute Team at Cockermouth in Cumbria on Saturday, June 8.

He said: “I haven't got the time to get fit and do physical training so I thought this was best. I'm scared of heights. And I want to do something challenging so my friends and people will feel worthwhile for something to donate to."

To sponsor him, or learn more about The Rainbow Legacy House and other charities involved in Neave’s care, visit www.neaves-fund.org.uk or e-mail jan@neaves-fund.org.uk