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Thirteen-year-old Yasmina Bez was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) aged 8. FA is a rare, inherited disease which causes progressive nervous system damage and movement problems and worsens over time.
Yasmina has problems with her speech and uses a wheelchair most of the time. She started horse-riding at the age of 11, initially as part of her therapy to improve her movement and strength, and found that as well as loving the sport, she had a real talent for it. She currently rides with the Riding for the Disabled New Lodge centre in Bromley. She has already won a regional competition at RDA Penniwells, but will need her own horse and private lessons in order to progress.
Yasmina will be taking part in the Superhero Tri 2022 event powered by Marvel on August 20 at Dorney Lake near Windsor in Berkshire, which sees children with disabilities and their families complete a course of varying lengths in which ever way they choose.
Mum Touria Hauokachi, 36, said: ‘We’re all really looking forward to the event and hope it will help us raise money for a horse for Yasmina. Like any teenaged girl, she wants to be as independent as possible and with movement difficulties, riding really helps her to achieve that.’
The family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope which helps families fundraise for children like Yasmina with healthcare needs and provides charity status to benefit from gift aid, corporate support whilst also providing donor reassurance.
Tree of Hope is an established charity partner of the Superhero Tri. The established event series is a countrywide disability sports event which encourages children and their chosen sidekicks to complete 1,5 or 10KM distance, however they want. Participants, can run, walk, skip and wheel their way around the lake and choose the distance they want to compete in.
Gill Gibb, Tree of Hope CEO said: ‘We’re delighted to be helping Yasmina and her family with fundraising and hope they enjoy the Superhero Tri!’
To donate to Yasmina’s fund, visit https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/yasmina-bez/
For more information about the Superhero Series visit https://superheroseries.co.uk/
For more information, images or to arrange interviews please contact Catherine Cooper on 00 33 5 61 69 57 89, 00 33 6 09 03 55 88 or mail@catherinecooper.net
