A Caerphilly girl who was born with a rare liver disease has completed a sponsored walk to raise money for the charity that has supported her family throughout her illness.
Kaylee Wood, 13, completed a sponsored walk of Pen-y-Fan with her father and her friend, and raised £400 for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) in the process.
Kaylee, who lives in Bargoed, has Alagille syndrome, a condition which affects the liver, kidneys, heart, and eyes.
There is currently no cure for Alagille syndrome and Kaylee has to take daily medication and attend hospital regularly.
While continuing to battle the illness, she decided she wanted to do something for the charity that has provided her family with support since her diagnosis.
Kaylee said: “My dad and my friend Hannah said they would join me on a sponsored walk. It took us two hours and 40 minutes but it was a beautiful day and we all really enjoyed it.
“It was so nice to be able to walk up a mountain with stunning views for such an amazing cause. I’m so proud that I was able to complete it and especially to have raised so much for a charity so close to my heart.
“CLDF means a lot to me, and I wanted to do something to help other kids like me.”
CLDF is a UK charity which takes action against the effects of childhood liver disease, providing information, emotional support, research funds and a voice for all affected.
Every week 20 children in the UK are diagnosed with a life-threatening childhood liver disease and in most cases the cause is unknown and there is no cure.
Alison Taylor, Chief Executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, said: “CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases, by providing information and emotional support, funds for research and a voice for all those affected.
“In order to do this however, we rely almost entirely on voluntary donations so we’re delighted that Kaylee did this for us. She should be super proud of herself for completing the challenge and her fundraising total which will benefit young people like her throughout the UK.”
You can still support Kaylee by going to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vicki-hill5.
Well done to this young lady. Walking Pen-y-Fan is not as simple as it seems, especially if you have an illness. True inspiration,Total respect to you young lady.
Well done Kaylee, let’s hope that a cure for your liver disease is found soon.