Samantha Smith’s dad helps family fun day raise over £2,400 for daughter’s operations with tough 120km hand-cycle

Samantha Smith’s dad has helped raise over £2,400 towards his daughter’s next lifesaving operations, by completing a tough 120km hand-powered bike ride at a family fun day in Ashton on Sunday (28 October).

Philip Smith, from Wardle, completed the sponsored bike ride using a hand-powered cycle, due to his own mobility restrictions arising from arthritis and knee surgeries.

Having spent many months training, Phil cycled the equivalent distance of Rochdale to York around a circuit at the British Disability Cycling Hub in Ashton-under-Lyne as part of a family fun day to raise even more much-needed funds towards his daughter’s surgery.

In total, over £2,400 was raised on the day.

Phil said: “It was a long day, from 7am to just after 4pm. That said, I had expected to finish around 5pm, so I was pleased with that.

“It was a hard and cold struggle, but we got a lot of support on the day, with a great turnout. Around 20 people joined in and did some cycling with me, including British Paracyclist gold medal winner, Megan Giglia MBE.”

Daughter Sam added: “I’m bursting with thanks and pride for dad and everyone involved.”

 

 

Last month, brave mother of two, Samantha, whose brain and spinal cord were being crushed under the weight of her own skull, revealed that she is once again fighting for her life after three extensive surgeries to stabilise her head and neck did not have the success rate anticipated.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/122364/samantha-smith-reveals-further-deterioration-in-heartbreaking-update

Samantha, who urgently requires another fusion surgery, also revealed that due to her various medical conditions, her body is deteriorating so rapidly, she now requires brain surgery as her brainstem is falling out of her skull.

Approximately £52,500 has been donated towards Samantha’s next lifesaving operations so far, which are once again not available in the UK and will cost over £100,000.

Read more about Samantha's brave journey:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/news-archives

How you can help Save Samantha

Donations can be made via

• PayPal: www.paypal.me/savesamanthapurchase
• Bank Transfer: 
  Name: Save Samantha 
  Account no 90266248
  Sort code 20-45-45
   
• Philip’s fundraiser: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/philip-smith-111