Print

E-mail

Text

A fundraiser is being held Sunday to help an 11-year-old Leaside resident experience the freedom of running.

The Teya Fund in association with the Rumball Foundation for the Deaf is holding a fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Bier Markt to help Teya Roxborough to receive life-changing physical therapy.

Teya, who was born deaf, was diagnosed at six months old with an extremely rare neurological disorder called cerebellar hypoplasia. She was born with limited neurological connections between her brain and her body

Her mother, Jeanette Roxborough, was told Teya would never walk. But after a lot of perseverance, Roxborough was able to find someone who would help Teya be able to walk independently for the first time when she was eight years old and now they have a new goal.

"Our main goal this time is for her to be able to run, to be able to go up and down stairs by herself," Roxborough said.

Teya has been working with Chilean therapist Ramon Cuevas, who pioneered a form of treatment called Cuevas Medek Exercises.

Roxborough met him in 1999 when he was in Toronto for a work-related trip. She thought he might be able to help Teya so she used mostly her own money to get her and her daughter to Chile for five weeks of intensive therapy. They've since returned four times and are fundraising for the sixth trip.

Without fundraising it would be difficult to go back for more therapy.

"It is extremely important," Roxborough said of the fundraiser. "She is able to walk independently because of the treatment."

Roxborough believes her daughter can make more progress.

"It costs a lot of money to go. It's been a long journey and I'm not ready to give it up yet," she said.

Video of Teya is available at www.cuevasmedek.com under the "clients" section. Roxborough said those who have seen the footage of her daughter's progress have been inspired, and she routinely receives letters from other parents.

"It's an incredible privilege to be her mother," she said.

The event takes place at 3 p.m. Tickets are $50 at the door and $45 online at https://secure.gettickets.ca/?event=13821, and include two Steamwhistle beers (a sponsor), snacks and entertainment, including Craig Lauzon from Royal Canadian Air Farce. There will also be prizes and a special auction.