A courageous schoolgirl who survived meningitis is to meet her hero Tatty Teddy at an awe-inspiring fundraising event this summer.
Ellie Mae Mellor, aged seven from Norton le Moors, Stoke, endured over seventy operations after contracting meningococcal septicaemia just before her first birthday. Despite losing three of her limbs, she has recently learnt to walk on brand new ‘rocking’ legs.
Now Ellie Mae is determined to put her legs to good use by completing a sponsored walk to raise money towards a new church roof in her home town of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Tatty Teddy will be at the event to meet Ellie-Mae and her classmates as they support their brave friend when she walks around her local stadium on July 10th. On the day, Tatty Teddy will start the walk with ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ boards, and will also hold the tape for Ellie Mae to pass through at the finish line. There will be goody bags for Ellie Mae and her class, as well as a special present for the fundraiser herself.
Mum Kelly said: “Ellie Mae loves Tatty Teddy. When she was first ill it was around the time of Valentine’s Day, and we bought her a limited edition Tatty Teddy holding five love-hearts. It snowballed from there, and every time she had an op, we gave her a new Me to You bear. She now has a huge collection in her bedroom! She loves anything to do with Tatty Teddy and is also a big fan of Tatty Puppy.”
Kelly added: “The walk will be a massive challenge for Ellie Mae, but having Tatty Teddy there to support her will be a real boost. I am just so immensely proud of our daughter. She has been through so much yet she always has a smile on her face and never lets anything get her down. And the fact that she is doing this to help other people, well, we couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Ellie Mae’s aim is to raise £250 towards a fundraising campaign at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Norton le Moors, Stoke. If you would like to donate, please visit www.elliemaemellor.co.uk/
