Help 4-Year-Old Mia Take Her Next Big Step

I’m excited — and a little emotional — to share the next chapter of my daughter’s journey. Mia is 4 years old, and she is my bright, brave, and determined little girl. She was born with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, which affects the muscles in her legs and makes movement, walking, and balance far more difficult than it should be.

Mia faces challenges every day that most children her age never have to think about. Things like running, climbing, or simply walking take extra effort, and often come with frustration and fatigue. But Mia is a fighter — she works so hard, always with a smile on her face and a spark in her eyes. She is full of life, full of love, and full of determination to do things her own way.

As her mum, I want nothing more than to give Mia the chance to move more freely, to experience the world with less struggle and more independence. That’s why I’m launching this fundraiser — to help Mia access a life-changing therapy programme with Swim Lab International. This is the opportunity Mia needs to build strength, confidence, and mobility — but I can’t make it happen without help.

Why This Therapy is So Important

Swim Lab International offers intensive therapy designed specifically for children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. It combines specialist aquatic therapy with land-based treatments that help children like Mia build strength, improve coordination, and gain confidence in their bodies.

In the water, Mia is able to move more freely, which helps strengthen muscles that are otherwise difficult to engage. On land, she’ll work on balance, core stability, and controlled movements — all tailored to her unique needs. This kind of therapy can make an enormous difference in her ability to walk, play, and explore the world more independently.

Unfortunately, this therapy isn’t available on the NHS. The only way to access it is through private funding, and the cost is significant — not just for the therapy itself, but also for travel, accommodation, and related expenses, as Swim Lab International operates abroad.

What I’m Fundraising For

I’m hoping to raise enough to cover:

• Intensive therapy sessions with Swim Lab International

• Flights and travel expenses for Mia and myself

• Accommodation while we attend therapy blocks

• Additional resources or equipment to support Mia’s progress at home

Every single penny raised will go directly toward giving Mia this chance to thrive — to move, to play, and to live with greater independence.

Why It Means Everything to Me

Being a single parent brings its own set of challenges, but I’m determined to do everything I can to give Mia the best possible opportunities in life. I’ve watched her work so hard, pushing herself day after day with the most incredible resilience. I’ve seen the joy on her face when she takes a new step or master’s a new skill — even if it takes weeks or months of practice.

But I’ve also seen the frustration when her body won’t do what she wants it to, when her legs feel heavy or tired, or when she wants to join in with friends but can’t keep up. As her mum, that’s the hardest thing to watch.

I want Mia to know that no dream is too big, and no challenge is too great — but I can’t give her this opportunity on my own.

How You Can Help

If you’re able to donate, please know that every contribution — big or small — brings us closer to this goal. If you can’t donate, sharing Mia’s story with others is just as valuable. The more people who hear about Mia, the better chance we have of reaching the target and changing her future.

Your kindness, your encouragement, and your generosity will make a real difference — not just in Mia’s life, but in mine too. As her mum, there’s nothing more powerful than knowing that a community of people believe in her as much as I do.

Thank you for reading Mia’s story, for supporting us, and for helping my little girl take her next big step towards a brighter, more independent future.

With all my love and gratitude,

Mia’s Mum

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds, or surplus funds, they will be used, if appropriate, to fund support for our child’s needs in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objectives. If, in those circumstances, we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child, any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to be used for the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.