Street holds fundraisers after teenager's rare disease battle

A kind-hearted group of people living in Valley Mill Lane have gone the extra mile to raise cash for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (RMCH) after one young resident's battle with a rare disease.

Molly McQuilton-Morgan was diagnosed with Addison's Disease in 2016, when she was just 11-years-old.

The disorder, which is also known as primary adrenal insufficiency or hypoadrenalism, occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough of certain hormones.

It usually occurs in people aged between 30 and 50 ­— meaning Molly's diagnosis was quite a rare one.

The disease has left the teen suffering from low mood, lack of energy, headaches and muscle pain.

Over time, these problems can become more severe leading to dizziness, fainting, cramps and exhaustion.

Molly's mum, Donna said: “We’d known something wasn’t right for a while. “She’d had different tests and seen different doctors so it was a relief to get a proper diagnosis and be transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

“Her diagnosis came just as she was starting high school, so not having a lot of energy for socialising was very hard.

"She has experienced big peaks and troughs in her mental health. She has felt very low at times and it has been hard to deal with as a family."

Donna McQuilton-Morgan

She added: “Addison’s does make life complicated – if she has a stomach bug she has to have a drip in hospital.

"If she breaks a bone or needs to have a tooth out she needs to be admitted to hospital as her body could go into shock.”

To mark the NHS's 72nd birthday this month, the RMCH's charity has launched a #72for72NHS challenge which asks people to get involved with fundraising using a number 72 theme.

To say thank you for the treatment Molly has received at the hospital, Mrs McQuilton-Morgan decided to cook 72 meals for friends and neighbours in return for a donation.

Molly's dad, Richard also completed a 72-mile bike ride, while she and friend Ruby walked their neighbour Karen Roche’s dog for 7.2km.

Their efforts then inspired other residents in the street to get involved with their own, sometimes whacky, fundraising ideas.

Richard McQuilton-Morgan, Karen Roche and Danny Roberts prepare to head out on their bike ride

Among them were Matt Gilmore and Jennie Furby who took on two unique eating challenges ­— scoffing 72 hotdogs and 72 Jaffa cakes respectively.

Neighbours Will Thomas, Danny Roberts and Karen Roche mimicked Richard’s bike ride as a relay team.

And Mr Thomas further cycled another 72 miles over two days, in memory of his grandma, and was joined by Richard for the last leg.

Meanwhile five-year-old Ameera Shahid did 72 knee strikes on a karate pad, and Jordan De Miranda is teaching his mum to run and together they are set to jog 7.2km.

Collectively, they have already raised more than £500.

Jennie Furby as she prepares to eat 72 Jaffa cakes

Mrs McQuilton-Morgan said: “Once we started telling people about the challenge and Molly’s treatment more and more people kept wanting to join us.

“We’ve lived here a long time but there are some neighbours who we’ve never even spoken to before who heard what we were doing and asked what they could do to help. It’s been a real coming together of the community.”

To donate visit:

Donna’s cooking donation page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/72for72NHS

Richard’s cycling donation page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/72food

Matt’s Hot Dog challenge page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matthew-gilmore1

Jennie’s Jaffa cake challenge page: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/Jennifer-furby1

Will’s 72 bike ride page: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/william-thomas24

Jordan’s 7.2K run donation page: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/Jordan-de-miranda

Ameera’s kicks challenge page: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/72kneekicks