DEFYING the odds is a special talent of a Warwick girl.
Chloe Dixon’s parents were told their daughter may never walk when was born with Spina Bifida – a curvature of the spine – and had a tumour on her spine.
But now she is preparing to take on the Great Birmingham Mini Run on October 16 to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
At just four years-old Chloe underwent a 12 hour surgery on her spine at the hospital, and last September had two metal rods put in her back.
A year later the doctors have given her the all clear to get back to being an active eight year-old.
The Woodloes School pupil enjoys horse riding and taekwondo when she is not taking her mum on training runs for the 1.5k mini run.
Chloe was also presented with the bravery award at this year’s Pride of Coventry and Warwickshire Awards.
Mum Nicola says she could not be more proud of her daughter wanting to give something back to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
She told The Observer: “Nothing will stop Chloe and when she decided she wanted to take part in the mini run she said ‘mummy this will help so many poorly children.’
“Before we were given the all clear after her operation, we were really worried because she is such an active child. It was a real relief for the doctors to tell her she could get back to horse riding.
“I’m running with her so we’ve been going out on training runs together.”
Kathy Oury of Tagb Tigers – Chloe’s taekwondo teacher – gave the youngster’s fundraising a boost of some £240 by encouraging her pupils to attend lessons in fancy dress.
Her original target was to raise £100 but is now at well over £1,000 with Banbury-based courier service All Aces donating £500.
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Chloed1 to sponsor Chloe.
