A SPIRITED and determined six-year-old Caldicot girl who dreams of one day competing as a Paralympian is the inspiration for Chepstow Rugby Club’s fund-raising efforts during its 150th anniversary year.

Sara Walbyoff was born without a properly developed spine and spinal cord and diagnosed with a rare form of spina bifida aged four.

Her uncle Andrew Morris, who is actively involved with Chepstow RFC, has seen at firsthand the invaluable support that she and her parents Liz and Paul have received from the charity Shine Cymru and the club is planning a series of events throughout the 2018/19 season to ‘give something back’.

Shine provides specialist support from before birth and throughout the life to anyone living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, as well as to parents, families, carers and professional care staff.

“There may be local families who could benefit from the support Shine provides who may not know about them,” said Andrew.

“We’re not just planning to raise funds but to raise awareness too - with leaflets and posters around the club giving details of the charity and how to contact them.”

Spina Bifida is caused by low levels of folic acid during the mother’s pregnancy which can cause neural tube defects in the unborn child.

Experts say that nearly three in four of people with conditions like spina bifida could have been saved from suffering problems if flour in the UK was fortified with Folic Acid - as it is in an estimated 90 other countries around the world.

Sara’s mum Liz says she should have been on a higher dose of folic acid but didn’t know anything about it. She and Paul only learned that Sara had spina bifida just before their second daughter, Alis, now two, was born.

“Shine have been amazing. I’m not really quite sure what we would have done without them,” she said.

Liz and Paul encourage Sara to believe she “can do anything she wants to do”.

The family trekked to the summit of Pen-y-fan last year in support of Shine and are planning further sponsored events.

“Sara can walk and run, up to the point where her legs get tired,” Paul explained. “Her main problem is with incontinence.

“She goes to mainstream school and loves gymnastics and swimming. She’s a very lively, determined little girl!”

Shine is heavily committed to the campaign for the fortification of flour with folic acid.

Pontypridd MP Owen Smith has led a debate on the issue in Parliament and an All Party Parliamentary Group has been set up to ask the government to consider the issue.  

“Our MP Jessica Morden (Newport East) spoke on behalf of ourselves and Sara at the debate and has taken a keen interest in what the benefits of flour fortification are,” said Paul.

For further information on the campaign go to https://www.shinecharity.org.u k/spina-bifida/the-fortificati on-campaign

Shine Awareness Week 2018 “#ShineBright18” takes place from 22nd to 26th October and coincides with World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Awareness Day on 25th October.

To find out more about Shine go to the Twitter account @shineukcharity or Facebook shineukcharity.