A YOUNG woman with a debilitating life-limiting condition is hoping to raise £1,700 so she can embark on a trip of a lifetime before she is too ill to go.
Lily Hughes, who is 21 and from Droitwich, suffers with the incurable Type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
That means she is wheelchair-bound, unable to be physically independent and recurrently contracts pneumonia which leaves her extremely ill for weeks on end.
It is her life-long ambition to go around Europe with Emily Corden who, as well as her best friend is also her carer, helping her with all the challenges she faces on a daily basis.
The pair are hoping to spend a month going around Holland, Germany, Poland, Switzerland and Austria in July, taking in the history of the countries – a particular love of Lily’s.
After a long time saving, the pair now have the £3,000 needed to pay for the trip and accommodation.
But because of Lily’s disability, the medical insurance she needs will cost her £1,700. That is because, as well as any potential treatment she may need should she become ill abroad, there is also a lot of expensive medical equipment she will have to take with her.
Lily said: “For that to become affordable for me I would have to save for years and there is a danger that, by the time I am in a position to pay for it, my condition could have deteriorated so much that I may be too ill to go.
“While my disability is physically limiting I really want to try and do all the same things other people my age are able to do.
“I really want to go on this trip of a lifetime before it’s too late and any donations anyone can give – even if it is one or two pounds – would be a great help.”
So far £650 has been raised and Lily is hoping Standard readers will help her collect the other £1,000.
Anyone who can contribute to Lily’s fund can do so by visiting http://www.gofundme.com/kvyhgs or by calling her on 07514 512115.
