Jobseekers go the extra mile for Holly

From the archive, first published Friday 10th Feb 2006.

A man who was told he would never walk again after a childhood accident is joining a sponsored walk to raise money for desperately ill Holly Clarke.

James Ogden is among a group of up to 25 unemployed people working with Bradford-based Action for Employment (A4e), who will complete the eight-mile trek at Malham in the Yorkshire Dales to raise funds for the six-year-old.

Holly has been battling Batten's Disease, which leads to the progressive deterioration of the brain and nervous system, for two years and she has already lost most of her sight and speech and cannot walk by herself.

Mr Ogden, of Crossflatts, knows first hand about the struggle against disability and the pressure it can place on a family.

The 29-year-old had to learn to walk again after he was struck by the side of a passing ambulance in Keighley when he was 11.

"The doctors told my mum and dad I would never walk again," he said. "I feel like I have been given a second chance so now I will do all I can to help anyone else. I know that not being able to walk is not nice and that it's a worrying thing for your parents.

"I was in a coma for 18 months and when I came round I did not even know who my mum and dad were.

"My mum and dad were crying and I asked which doctors they were. I was paralysed down the left side and took about five months to learn how to walk again."

Holly's parents, Darren and Shirelle, of Grove House, Bradford, set up a trust fund to buy equipment to make Holly's life easier after she was diagnosed with the disease.

Darren, 35, said: "They are fantastic people and anything they can do is totally appreciated, especially with the situation they are in themselves, being unemployed. They are getting themselves back on their feet and to do something on top of that is absolutely brilliant.

"Holly hasn't been well for about a month and has not been able to go to school. It started off with a virus and attacked her central nervous system so she was thrashing around a lot. But she isn't doing that as much now and she has been getting better."

A4e, which is based in Charles Street, Bradford, helps unemployed people to get back into full time employment by offering help with issues including teamwork, time-keeping, confidence-building and attendance.

Its in-house work placement scheme called the Meridian Project is run as a business and organises fundraising events to help clients develop their skills. Any money made is donated to charity or non-profit organisations.

Meridian Project supervisor Stuart Bottomley said: "One of our colleagues saw an article about Holly and asked if we could do something to help. Holly's dad came to talk to some of the clients and things have started to take off now."

Anyone who would like to sponsor the team or can help with supplies of food and water can call A4e on (01274) 722700.

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