World Champion Para athlete supports Redwalls Nursing Home's charity event
A world champion Para athlete will be supporting staff and residents at Redwalls Nursing Home during their charity fund-raising event on Friday.
Rafi Solaiman, 21, a world record holder at 200m and 400m, will be helping to man their stall selling doughnuts outside the Kingsley Healthcare home in Weaverham Road, Sandiway, from 10.30am to 4pm.
They are selling the doughnuts, kindly supplied by Morrisons, for a minimum donation of 50p to raise funds for the Children’s Trust.
Rafi’s sister Jodie Solaiman, 26, from Frodsham, is an activities coordinator at Redwalls and she chose The Children’s Trust for their National Doughnut Week fundraiser because of the amazing support the charity gave her brother after he had a brain haemorrhage at the age of 12.
She said: “He was born with a cluster of blood vessels on his brain which we didn’t know about until the day they burst.
“He had to have numerous emergency brain surgeries to save his life and we were told that even if he did survive he might not be able to walk or talk again.”
After six months in hospital, Rafi travelled to Tadworth in Surrey to The Children’s Trust which offers rehabilitation, education and community services for children with brain injuries.
“The staff were amazing and the equipment they had available was fantastic for the children. We can help The Children’s Trust grow by raising more money,” she said.
“Rafi has defied all odd and has become a model as well as being a Para athlete who has competed in places as far afield as Dubai, Poland and Denmark.”
She said he had always shown tremendous gratitude to those who had helped him and was eager to come from his home in Sheffield to support Friday’s event.
Jo Hitchen, community champion at the Morrisons store in Frodsham, will also be lending her support on the day.
Miss Solaiman said a number of residents, including Vera Shambrook pictured with her, were also keen to get involved.
Author: Stephen Pullinger
