Appeal: Kind-hearted donations gets Ellie back in the saddle (From Dorset Echo)

Appeal: Kind-hearted donations gets Ellie back in the saddle

10:00am Wednesday 30th March 2011 in Local News By Laura Kitching

SURVIVOR Ellie Hills is back in the saddle for the first time since suffering a deadly disease thanks to kind-hearted donations.

An influx of bicycles arrived at the Dorset Echo offices following an appeal on behalf of the Ellie’s family for help with their charity cycle.

The Dorset Youth Offending Team was among those who contributed bikes for the charity cyclists for the ride or as auction items to raise proceeds.

Community resources manager Steph Rae was delighted when one of their donations was the perfect match for seven-year-old Ellie who immediately rode it – with help – around the Echo car park.

She added: “I had no idea it would be perfect for Ellie, it’s really good.

“We are happy to support the fundraising attempt for Ellie Hills by donating the bikes that have been repaired and reconditioned by young people completing community work.”

The ambitious cycle team, which consists of family members, three coastguard crew and Echo staff, will be embarking on a 70-mile journey to follow the path taken by Portland Coastguard helicopter to save Ellie’s life.

St Augustine’s pupil Ellie was struck down with a potentially deadly strain of the meningitis disease just before Christmas last year and airlifted in blizzard conditions from Dorchester hospital to the specialist children's intensive care unit in Southampton.

Her family are so grateful to the 999 heroes for saving Ellie's life that on Saturday April 23 at 8am they aim to pedal from Portland Coastguard’s Osprey Quay base to Dorset County Hospital and then on to Southampton General Hospital.

The money raised will be split between Portland Coastguard, Dorchester’s Kingfisher children’s ward, Southampton’s paediatric intensive care unit and a Meningitis charity.

Tim Illingworth, manager of Weymouth-based Mud Sweat & Gears bike shop is providing checks for all the challengers vehicles, as well as an emergency spares kit.

He added: “We do quite a few charity events throughout the year and we thought this was quite a touching one really.”

When asked why she was happy about the bike donations, Ellie said: “Because it’s helping other people like me.”

Ellie’s mum Lucy Hills said: “The meningitis has damaged the front of Ellie’s brain quite badly, she’s lost a lot of the skills she used to have and we’re not sure if she’s going to get any better than she already is.

“She’s an amazing little girl, she keeps smiling every day.

“She gets fed up with her wheelchair and keeps trying to walk and then gets tired and has to get back in.”

Ellie’s granddad Ian Finney added: “All the lads at First Buses where I work have raised about £400 so far. We’ve been amazed by everyone’s generosity.”

Ellie and her family recently faced homelessness when their former private landlord put his house up for sale.

Lucy Hills said following the Dorset Echo's appeal for help, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's housing team had found them temporary accommodation in Chickerell and then a permanent home on Portland, which they moved into on Friday.