Variety is still giving children new lease of life

Born 12 weeks early and diagnosed with the condition a year later, the seven-year-old has limited use of both of her legs and one arm.

But the fundraising efforts of Variety Children’s Charity, are helping Eve become more independent.

Her parents David and Gina have built an extension at the family home in Menston so Eve can have her own bedroom with a bathroom on the ground floor, which means she won’t have to be carried up the stairs.

Variety footed the £4,800 bill to have her new bathroom fitted out as a wet room with shower, shower seat and toilet.

“We have to carry her up and downstairs at the moment, which was okay when she was little, but it has become increasingly difficult as she has grown,” said Mr Williams. “This extension is going to give her independence.”

As well as the donation from Variety, the family benefited from a council grant, the generosity of family and friends and cash from the Fashion & Textiles Children’s Trust for the extension. “Variety was great, we couldn’t have done it without them,” said Mr Williams.

“Charities are struggling because of the recession, but it is commendable that while other charities are struggling to fund certain things, Variety is still managing to.”

And, since undergoing life-changing surgery, Eve has been able to talk her first teetering steps with the aid of a ‘Kaye Walker’ – a frame to support her when she walks. Eve’s doctor predicts that within a year or two she will be able to do some walking. Variety helps build a better future for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children across the Yorkshire region.

Today marks the launch of Variety’s 2012 Yorkshire Business Awards, which is are in their 26th year.

The awards are supported by main sponsor Sewell Recruitment Group and the Yorkshire Post. Other sponsors include Design Portfolio Marketing Services, Ernst & Young, Evans Property Group, NM Rothschild, Pace, Pinsent Masons, Yorkshire Bank and Yorkshire Building Society.

Last year’s winners were comedian Barry Cryer, who picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award; Mike Humphrey, former chief executive of Goole-based Croda, one of Yorkshire’s biggest listed companies, who won the accolade for Business Leader of the Year; housebuilder Persimmon, which was handed the title of Board of the Year; and Really Useful Products, which took the award for SME of the Year.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event will be announced shortly, but past speakers include Tony Blair’s former head of communications Alastair Campbell, journalist and broadcaster Jeremy Paxman, Olympic champion rower Sir Matthew Pinsent and former boss of Marks & Spencer Sir Stuart Rose.

Martin Shaw, event chairman and committee member of Variety in Yorkshire, said: “I am amazed at the support from the Yorkshire business community as over £3,000,000 has been raised at the Yorkshire Business Awards lunch which has enabled the Variety Children’s Charity to provide over 70 Sunshine coaches, 150 wheelchairs and 500 items of equipment to support the sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in the Yorkshire region.”

The 2012 Yorkshire Business Awards lunch will take place on December 14 at The Queens hotel in Leeds. Attendance is on a ticket only basis. Email [email protected].

Please send award entries to Bernard Ginns, Business Editor at the Yorkshire Post, by emailing [email protected] including basic financial information for the last three years and a short summary explaining why you should win.

[email protected]