Great Chesterford dad taking on Dragon Race for friend’s child with rare genetic condition

Great Chesterford father of three is taking on the gruelling Dragon Race for nine-year-old Winnie Heath who has a genetic condition so rare only 15 other cases are known worldwide.

Revenue director Ben Oakshott, 46, is taking on the race to help raise funds for Winne Heath, 9, a family friend.

There are four options for the cycle race through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Breacon Beacons) – Ben will be taking on the ‘Medio Fondo’ route which is 157km long with 2223 metres of vertical climb and includes The Bwlch and Pen Y Fan

Winnie, from Saffron Walden, had to be resuscitated at birth and several times within her first 24 hours. She is completely blind, unable to walk has very limited speech. She also has problems with her heart and kidneys and has epilepsy. However she is bright and intelligent, loves to be to read to, to listen to music and being outside.

Winnie lives with mum Fiona Eldridge, 47, a clinical psychologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, Dad James, 47, a clinical psychologist at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, and sisters Molly, 11, and Wanda, 7.

Winnie was recently diagnosed with a variation of the CDK8 gene. The family and their supporters are fundraising to buy equipment and therapy for Winnie to help her communicate and to gain more strength and movement.

Fiona said: ‘We are so grateful to Ben for taking on this challenge for Winnie. The costs involved for Winnie’s therapy, care and most recently, house adaptions are enormous and it is hard not to feel you are failing her when we can’t meet all these costs. The money Ben raises in his challenge will go towards Winnie’s physio and speech therapy, but will also help us towards paying to install and service a preloved hydro bath that we received via a donation through the Each hospice from another family whose daughter very sadly died.

‘Winnie loves the water, and I am so excited about the thought that we will soon be able to give her a place to move around in it safely without getting too cold! The strength she builds from moving in the water is enormous and will really help towards her physio targets as well as being a wonderful way for her to relax when she feels overwhelmed. We really are so very grateful to Ben for helping us to fundraise by taking on the Dragon Race.’

Ben said: ‘I did the same race in about six and a half hours last year and am hoping to beat that this year.’

‘I know Winne’s family because our daughters go to the school that Winnie’s sisters’ Molly and Wanda attend. I’m in awe of her two parents who work long hours for the NHS as well as parenting three girls, fundraising and their constant efforts to do their absolute best for Winnie. I’m delighted to be able to help with fundraising in this way.’

The family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope which helps families fundraise for children like Winnie with healthcare needs where the NHS can’t support and provides charity status to benefit from gift aid, corporate support whilst also providing donor reassurance.

Tree of Hope Head of Marketing and Family Support Georgina Lowry said: ‘We’re really pleased to be supporting Winnie’s fundraising. We wish Ben the best of luck with the Dragon Race and are here to support however we can.’

To sponsor Ben visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cycling-the-dragon-for-winnie
To donate to Winnie’s fund, visit https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/transform-winnies-life/