A SELFLESS mother-of-two is bidding to raise £30,000 to help pay for vital equipment at a city children’s home.
Hayley Moran, of Hollywood near Birmingham, is aiming to collect the money for a new sensory garden at Green Hill Lodge, which cares for her 11-year-old son Joe.
The Gillam Street site, which looks after children with autism, took Joe in on August 1 last year and now the 43-year-old is hoping to go the extra mile for the lodge.
Speaking to the Observer, Hayley, whose oldest son William also suffers from autism, said the funds would help to develop the garden to include exploring sections, quiet sections, hammocks and a ‘chill out zone’.
“Joe was living with us at home until last summer, but we’ve been struggling,” she said. “As he’s got older he’s become more difficult to manage at home.
“With our social worker we were looking how to manage the difficulties we were having and she suggested looking at a home and Green Hill Lodge came up so we went to look at it, and now he’s there.
“He will be spending the rest of his childhood there so we want to make it as good for him as we can really.”
More than £6,000 has been raised for the cause so far thanks to a £5,000 donation from Redditch-based software company Vectric, who Hayley’s husband Mark works for, and a coffee morning held at her home address.
Hayley praised the lodge for the work they have done with Joe, but said life is still as difficult with him not in the house as it was before he left.
“Sometimes people think he’s gone so you should be managing now but actually it’s very traumatic every time he comes home he obviously has to go back,” she added.
“In an ideal world we would be a complete family and do everything together so if we could manage him at home we would. I know there are other things in life that are difficult but sometimes people don’t realise how difficult this can get.
“The lodge have been brilliant and I can’t rate it high enough. We went to look at a couple of homes before and just their whole attitude and staff are brilliant with Joe.
“Obviously it’s still difficult for us as a family but they’ve helped us manage it really well so I can only sing their praises.”
The Moran’s aren’t the only fund-raisers aiming to help create the sensory garden. As The Observer reported last month, Callum Davies and James
Underwood will take part in a series of fun runs, half marathons and full marathons, dressed as Batman and Robin, for the same cause.
Anyone looking to donate can contact Hayley on 07982252346, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.justgiving.com/sponsorbatmanandrobin online.
