Eleanor Ward suffers from the rare condition acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) which affects the nervous system. A fund has been set up to raise £15,000 to purchase a specialist electrical stimulation cycle to help Eleanor exercise.

Last year, 14 year old Eleanor Ward from Horsham St Faith went to sleep with backache and woke up paralysed from the waist the next day. Today she is still wheelchair bound and needs the full time care of her mother, Andrea Ward. Eleanor receives physiotherapy to help start her walking and standing again. A family friend, Lewis Robson has set up a charitable fund to finance the specialist equipment Eleanor needs and has just completed a sponsored skydive. After reading about her story in the Norwich Evening News, Sportspark contacted Mrs Ward to offer a £700 donation.

The money has been raised by Sportspark customers who have made small donations in return for copies of the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News, through a promotion in conjunction with Archant. Seven donations have been made to other charities and self help groups over the last year.

Keith Nicholls, Director of Sportspark said “It is my pleasure to be able to offer Eleanor this donation to put towards the cost of purchasing the specialist equipment needed to help her gain strength and improve her health. Exercise is so important, not only for our physical wellbeing, but our mental wellbeing too. I’d like to thank the generous Sportspark customers for continuing to make these donations which enable us to help local people through sport and exercise.”