A young girl in Muskoka is part of an initiative to help her friend Nathan Perry, who has Cerebral Palsy.
Kennedy Watson is making and selling hats to raise money needed to pay for Nathan’s surgery in the United States.
“I know Nathan needs all the help he can get and I thought wouldn’t it be cool if I could do something to support for him,” said 11-year-old Kennedy.
Nathan is living with a chronic disability known as Spastic Cerebral Palsy. The 10-year-old has difficulty with walking, writing and dressing himself.
He has been accepted for a life changing surgery called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). The surgery will be done in at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Cerebral Palsy Centre. The surgery is expected to help Nathan move more freely, with less pain and discomfort and prevent further deformities.
The surgery is expected to cost more than $70,000 and is not covered by OHIP.
“It’s truly going to change his life,” said Melissa Perry, Nathan’s mom. “It’s going to prevent a lot of issues that he would have had.”
So far, Kennedy has sold more than 90 hats through her "Hats for Nate" campaign.
“Everyone is behind her and everyone has been so inspired by her,” said Sandra Watson-Brown, Kennedy’s mom.
For Nathan, the surgery means being able to do something he’s always dreamed about.
“One thing I would really like to do is play hockey with a team,” said Nathan.
Along with the “Hats for Nate” there are a several fundraising campaigns.
There will be skate-a-thon with the Jr C Huntsville Otters on March 12 at the Summit Centre from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
A Spaghetti dinner will be held on April 2 at the Port Sydney community centre from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A 5K run/walk is being held on April 30th in Alliston at the Adjala-Tosorontio Municipal Office. The event gets underway at 9 a.m.
