Fitness fans help make Jessica's wishes come true

Kerry Wilkie who runs Mumafit classes, which encourage mums to bring their kids along to fitness sessions, held a sell-out ladies’ night in Coaltown of Balgonie which raised a whopping £2160 for Jessica’s Wishes, a charity set up to raise money to send four-year-old Jessica Lessels from the town for an operation to help her walk.

Jessica, who attends Pitteuchar West Nursery, was born with a rare brain condition, Dysgenesis of the Corpus Callosum, where the central part of her brain hasn’t formed correctly. This seriously affects her learning and development as well as causing her major mobility issues.

Jessica’s development has reached that of an 18-month-old baby, and it is unknown how much further she will progress. She needs an operation which involves cutting nerves in her spinal cord to allow her to continue to stand and walk. However the operation is not available on the NHS, and will have to be done privately.

Jessica’s Wishes was set up to raise money for the operation as well as equipment and physiotherapy she will need following surgery.

Kerry rallied her mums who were only to happy to enjoy a night out to raise cash, with local firms and shops donating raffle prizes to further boost the total.

“They were fantastic and I would like to thank everyone who helped make the night such a success,” said Kerry.