Thornhill sisters raise cash for Transplant Games team
QUIETLY DOES IT: Eloise, left, and Bethany Salmon, with the signs they wore during their sponsored silence and, inset, Bethany taking part in the British Transplant Games. (d602b236)
LIKE most girls their age, sisters Bethany and Eloise Salmon are seldom quiet for more than a few seconds.
However, the talkative pair recently took a five-hour vow of silence – and raised £300 as a result.
Bethany, nine, and Eloise, seven, of Mountain Road, Thornhill, undertook the challenge to raise funds for two teams who competed in the British Transplant Games from August 23 to 26.
Mum Samantha said: “The girls went round shopping with me wearing a sign saying they were doing a sponsored silence and quite a few of the people who saw it gave them donations.
“There were a couple of moments when one of them looked like she was going to say something and the other jumped in with her hands waving to stop her.
“I’m really proud of them both, particularly Eloise who found it hard work because she’s a real little chatterbox!”
Bethany, who had a liver transplant in 2009, is a regular competitor for the Leeds Little Livers team in the Transplant Games, which this year were held at Medway, in Kent.
She took part in the obstacle course, ball throw, long jump and 50m dash on August 24.
She added: “Bethany was up against girls who are serious athletes and can do a lot more training than her. She did get a medal for completing the pentathlon and also one as a member of the team. Considering the pains she gets, she competed very well.”
Bethany had her transplant to combat the rare genetic condition, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. She now requires drugs which suppress her immune system and leave her highly vulnerable to infections.
Samantha said: “Everyone is happy with her liver, all the blood tests are good and you wouldn’t know there was anything wrong to look at her.
“However, we have to be on the alert against infections all the time and she has to wear lots of sun cream when she’s outside.
“Bethany has to deal with a lot more than other children but it’s all part of her daily routine and she doesn’t make a fuss about it.”
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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