Isabella, aged 9, with her mother Debbie Waistell have again been busy raising funds for the Spires Cleft Centre. Isabella was born with a cleft palate and had an operation to help with speech intelligibility in February 2024. The family are delighted with the result from her surgery and Isabella’s speech is now beautifully clear. The family wanted to help support other children who may need the same input.
A teacher and four pupils – including Isabella – from Emmbrook School, Wokingham, took part in the Reading Half Marathon and 3k Green Park Challenge to raise funds for the school, the Spires Cleft Centre and for Robin’s Ward where Isabella received her care when she was in hospital.
Isabella was keen to choose toys for the speech and language therapists and Spires team to use in therapy and clinics. On 13th June Isabella brought in two huge bags packed full to the brim with toys and activities to help encourage young children to play and talk and to help with speech therapy.
A huge thank you to Isabella for her amazing efforts and such a generous donation.
Pictured: Marc Swan (Clinical Director for Spires Cleft Centre) with Isabella and Lucy McAndrew (Deputy Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Spires Cleft Centre)