AN inspirational 15-year-old from Chester who didn’t take her first steps until she was aged four and a half will be climbing Wales’s tallest mountain this month to raise money for the charity that helped her to walk.
After Olivia Phillips didn’t reach her milestones at eight months old, she undertook several tests and was diagnosed with global developmental delay, microcephaly and hyperflexibility of the joints.
Olivia Phillips will be climbing Wales’s tallest mountain this month to raise money for the charity that helped her to walk.
Her parents said Olivia was unable to roll, crawl or sit unaided, and her first words were not dad or mum, but "no way".
It was then that she was introduced to children's charity Brainwave where she was given her own programme that included exercises and stretches which greatly improved her muscle development and flexibility.
Olivia Phillips will be climbing Wales’s tallest mountain this month to raise money for the charity that helped her to walk.
With the help of her family and friends and outdoor enthusiast dad Austin, Olivia – a pupil of Oaklands school in Winsford – is going to walk nine miles up and down Mount Snowdon in Wales and has already raised nearly £2,000 for Brainwave.
Austin Phillips said: “I’m so incredibly proud of Olivia. To think that she only started walking independently at five and she’s now walking Wales’s tallest mountain is phenomenal. Olivia loves the Queen and is hoping that as well as raising all this money she’ll one day get to meet her in person.”
Olivia Phillips will be climbing Wales’s tallest mountain this month to raise money for the charity that helped her to walk.
Keith Sinclair, CEO of Brainwave, said: “When we heard what Olivia was planning to do we were all so proud. She has already achieved so much, and to take on this challenge in aid of Brainwave is fantastic.
"We wish her all the best with her challenge and fundraising efforts. All the money raised will help us transform the lives of children with disabilities through our specialist therapy programmes. We’re celebrating our 40th anniversary this year and with the help of amazing fundraisers like Olivia we hope to raise £40,000 to fund a full-time therapist.”
Olivia Phillips will be climbing Wales’s tallest mountain this month to raise money for the charity that helped her to walk.
People who wish to support Olivia can do so by visiting her Justgiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/oliviastrek-2022
Brainwave supports children with various conditions including cerebral palsy, autism, developmental delay, sensory processing difficulties and Down syndrome. The charity also supports children with no official diagnosis and can assist families in accessing their services through a means-tested therapy access fund.
Olivia Phillips will be climbing Wales’s tallest mountain this month to raise money for the charity that helped her to walk.
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