Your share could raise €30
Before you go, did you know that simply by sharing this campaign, you could help it raise €30? It's an effective way to support the cause.
No thanks- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
Alexandra Gavrilenko hasn't added a story.
Hi everybody!
This is one aspect where we are competing, because next year I plan on winning that , and I was lucky enough to benefit from it last year. Unfortunately, because I have spent 27 years of my life with spasticity and little muscle control, recovery proves to be a steep learning curve for my brain and body. Nevertheless, I don't give up, because ever since the age of 7 my dream has been to beat CP. So far, I've been doing pretty well: I'm a competitive swimmer and I study at University (although, sometimes getting to class can be very hard when my legs are sore from therapy and training). Since the surgery, my walking and swimming has improved, but I have a long way to go and the therapy is very costly. I also might need additional surgery to lengthen my Achilles' tendons, and that's where my family needs your help. Over the years my parents have invested a lot in different treatments and therapies. This last surgery has cost us over 60.000 dollars. If I end up not needing the operation all the money raised will go towards paying for physical therapy and especially helping all my other friends who need money for SDR and other treatments.
One of these very good friends of mine is Alek Poultin, whom my family met while in Saint Louis. Alek is half English and half Swedish, but right now he lives in Sweden with his mom Anna, dad Phill, and little sister Alva. Positive and upbeat, together they go to all sorts of places and do all sorts of things never letting CP get in the way.
Alek, like any other boy who's on the verge of becoming a teen, likes sports and music, and hanging out with his friends. He also goes to school( by the way, Alek is very intelligent and especially good at math for what I've heard:)). However, unlike other boys his age, Alek has to shoulder an enormous amount of responsibility for his intense physiotherapy regime. In spite of all the challenges, he always has a huge smile on his face and a contagious sunny personality. Recently, he has completed an intensive program with Mike Poole in Scotland and was chosen for their 2014 client sponsorship program as a reward for his perseverance.This is one aspect where we are competing, because next year I plan on winning that scholarship! No offense Alek:)!
They are really very nice people and we had a lot of fun together. I particularly remember our visit to the Saint Louis Zoo. It was a little hard for us since Alek and I were at the very beginning of our recovery process, but we didn't let the difficulties stop us from having a nice time and seeing things! The only downside was the quality of the food:)
The tendon lengthening is not a quick fix and I'll still need to work very hard to gain more control in my feet and a better gait pattern. Therapy can be very frustrating, because you constantly need somebody else to show your brain how to move your own body. But I keep fighting everyday, because MY DREAM IS TO SHOW THAT YOU CAN BEAT CP! If one child believes, one family believes, one doctor believes, one physio believes, then maybe we all will one day! And nobody will have to struggle to walk or run! I BELIVE IN THE WORLD WITHOUT CP, DO YOU?
Perks
Highlights
See all activity3Activity
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.