Matilda says ‘thank you’ to all her supporters and hopes for surgery in spring so that she will be ready to dance into 2015.
Matilda Duncan, Casey Burke and their families have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the generosity of people making donations to the Walking Matilda fund which has raised enough to fund the operation.
On Friday last week, lots of people turned up for a jumble sale held at the girls’ school – Coteford Infant School in Fore Street, Eastcote – which raised £1,667.55 to help pay for Matilda’s physiotherapy after her operation.
“It is amazing in the first month after Christmas – and before pay day – so thank you everyone for your generosity,” said Casey’s mother, Suzanne Burke.
Rachel Knowles, Matilda’s mother, was keen to say thank you to the school and headteacher Julia Thomas, who have been behind the fundraising campaign from the beginning.
“The teachers at Coteford School have been kept busy with phone calls, visits from press and well-wishers, and have greeted everyone with enthusiasm and a smile,” Mrs Burke said.
“As a way of saying thank you to you all, we at Walking Matilda Fundraising HQ have decided to make a donation to Coteford School.”
Mrs Thomas plans to put the money towards something for the playground so that all the children can enjoy it.
Mrs Knowles said: “All the money we are raising will support Matilda for life, and we hope she can have the operation in April or May, have physio during the summer holiday, and maybe walk unaided by the time she comes back to school in September.
“We never expected to raise the money so quickly. When we found out we had hit our target, I felt like I was in a dream – I didn’t think it was real.
“She just wants to dance. It’s so simple and something you take for granted, but that’s all she wants to do.”
If you would like to help go to www.justgiving.com/walking-Matilda .
