Charity ball raises hundreds for Bailey’s wish

Bailey with her mother Mel and brothers Kacey and Shea at the ball (Pic: Facebook) (Image: Archant)

Bailey Walters-Lawrence of Gorefield Place, enjoyed a dance at the ball organised by her mother Mel, to help pay for her aftercare following her operation which is due to take place on Friday.

The brave youngster is undergoing a six-hour selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) on her spine at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which will help her walk, after the community raised the £30,000 needed for the procedure.

The ball at the Danubius Hotel in St John’s Wood, raised £500 towards the Bailey’s Wish fundraising mission, which was started three months ago after the NHS announced it was no longer able to fund the operation.

Ms Walters-Lawrence said: “It was fantastic, a really good turnout. There was a live band, a lot of entertainment and a lovely Caribbean buffet.

“Abrantee from Capital Xtra hosted the event; he was very funny, kept us all entertained.”

The mum-of-three added: “Bailey came and had the time of her life, she loves a dance my girl. She’s been excited about the operation but today she said she’s nervous. She’s sad to be leaving her brothers more than anything else.

The family were told they would have to find £30,000 for the operation and then told they needed to raise a further £15,000 for Bailey’s post operative care.

She will have to stay at the hospital for a month following the operation receiving care including thrice weekly physiotherapy sessions costing £70 each.

In a further blow to the family, callous thieves stole Bailey’s £2,000 stroller last month.

Ms Walters-Lawrence said: “We’ve raised £39,000 and need £10,000 more. It’s been quite a journey, a very heart warming journey. Everything has happened quicker than we expected because of people’s generosity.”

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