News
Charity cricket match for severely disabled four-year-old
09 May 2023
An Acton family are holding a charity cricket match on May 29 at Chiswick Cricket Ground attended by some star Middlesex players, to raise funds for their severely disabled daughter.
Tess Malins, aged 4, was diagnosed with epileptic encephalopathy at the age of three months. She is non-verbal and unable to walk or crawl, has little sight and little external awareness. She suffers around 20 seizures each day.
Despite this, she loves to get out in the open air in her wheelchair, being in water and spending time with her family.
Medication and other traditional treatments have had little effect, though treatment with medicinal cannabis and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber have seen pick ups in development and a reduction in pain.
Her parents Cathy Malins, 42, a part time investor relations manager, and Leif Powis, 37, a stockbroker, have organised the cricket match to help pay for ongoing therapies.
Cathy said: ‘Like any parents we simply want to do the best for our daughter. For Tess, this means paying for therapies and equipment. We are still exploring the best way to go with this – there are some interesting-sounding therapies available in America, for example, but all these things are very expensive.’
Mum to Tess
The family, who also have two other children, Teddy, 6 and Patti, 2, has already raised more than £27,000 through a series of events, including a 100km run which took place in Lief’s home country of Australia.
Entry to the cricket match will be free of charge, with food and drink available and guests encouraged to donate what they would like to. There will also be a raffle with prizes including coaching at Lords cricket ground from Middlesex cricket legend Sam Robsons, signed cricket merchandise and a three-course lunch for two at the River Café.
The family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope which helps families fundraise for children like Tess 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.
Gill Gibb, Tree of Hope CEO said: ‘It’s great to see Tess’s family have so much support and we wish them all the best with their fundraising and this fabulous event!’
To donate to Tess’s fund, visit https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/finding-tess/
