Wrexham Restaurant Staff Help Raise Money For Cerebral Palsy Girl’s Operation

The family of a four year old girl with cerebral palsy are facing a race against time to raise £60,000 for an operation which could help change her life.

Susanna Petersburska was born with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy which means that the muscles in her legs are very tight, making it painful and difficult to walk without help.

Later this year her parents, Andy and Monika, want to take her to America for an operation to give her the chance to walk unaided for the first time.

But the operation in St Louis Missouri, which claims a 100% success rate, and the follow-up treatment, costs £60,000.

To help meet the bill every Frankie and Benny’s restaurant in the UK donated sales from every kid’s meal purchased to the Help Susanna Walk Appeal.

Wrexham’s Eagles Meadow branch of the restaurant joined in with the help of Mayor of Wrexham Cllr Ian Roberts by holding a balloon race.

Andy and Monika came from Poland eight years ago in search of a better life. They live in Eccleston, St Helens, and Andy works for Frankie and Benny’s at Widnes.

Andy, said: “So far we have raised £16,000 which is amazing and we want to say a big thank you to everyone. We hope after this weekend to have raised a lot more. We are hoping we can book to go to America in September if there is a cancellation for an operation, but if not, possibly in October.

Although the operation is claimed to be 100% successful, there are no guarantees about the long term outcome and for Susanna the really hard work will start after the operation.

“Treatment after the operation is expensive, it is important she gets really good physiotherapy, it will be hard work for Susanna after the operation,” said Andy, who took Susanna into the restaurant at Widnes on Saturday to meet some of the people who are helping her.

Monika said: “Without this operation, Susanna will be a full-time wheelchair user and will miss out on all of the things she is so desperate to do.”

Peter Cross, manager of Frankie and Benny’s at Eagles Meadow, said: “It’s a very worthwhile cause and with Andy working at Widnes it’s more local. It’s nice to do something when you know the people involved and can see the results of what you do.”

Cllr Roberts added: “When you hear of a little girl who is in pain simply walking, you realise we perhaps can take good health for granted. This is a very worthwhile cause to give Susanna the chance to walk.

Also helping Susanna’s family raise the money for the operation are national charity, Caudwell Children, who support families caring for sick and disabled children.

If you want help visit www.helpsusannawalk.com or www.caudwellchildren.com