A Lanarkshire family are set to turn up the heat for a worthy cause - by taking part in a firewalk.
David Pringle and Karen McKettrick will tackle the warm walk this January to help raise funds and awareness for Cerebral Palsy Scotland.
The Cambuslang couple's young son Jack was born with a brain malformation that has left him with 50 per cent vision in each eye.
The youngster, aged just two, had to undergo an operation aged just 14 weeks, and over the past two years Cerebral Palsy Scotland has been a massive help for Jack and his parents.
That meant that when the chance came to try and help the charity through fundraising, Karen signed up straight away.
She told Lanarkshire Live: "I try and fundraise but normally it's things like the kiltwalk I do, so a firewalk is a bit different!
"It's just giving back to them. They've supported us so much and it just feels like something you should do, to help the charity but also to help other families get the support that we've had, as it's so important."
Karen, who also has a three year-old son, David, now hopes to encourage others to join her in taking part in the firewalk, which will take place on January 25 and bring together a host of people affected by cerebral palsy in their lives.
For Karen, the charity has helped to bring some normalcy back into her life.
She explained: "There's 150 children with cerebral palsy every year. Jack was born during lockdown, so it was a lonely time for us and he was regularly in hospital. I found Cerebral Palsy Scotland after going down a rabbit hole when Googling about cerebral palsy and straightaway they offered us an intense therapy session.
"We'd had help with physiotherapists and occupational therapists, but this session shows us things we could incorporate into daily life, and then the baby group started back up.
"Just having that hour every week and feeling more normal was great. I met other mums, some of whom were further along on their journey than me, and they could give advice, and the staff there are fantastic.
"It's not common to find other mums with kids that have cerebral palsy so it's about getting a bit of your mum life back as well. It's been so helpful, even letting Jack have play dates with other children with similar conditions as him."
When Jack was born he was found to have three different brain malformations, which led to medication resistant epilepsy.
This required brain surgery to disconnect half of his brain at just 14 weeks, and as a result of the surgery Jack has hemiplegia, meaning he is weaker on one side.
Now aged two, the youngster is progressing in leaps and bounds, according to his delighted mum.
"He's close to being able to stand again. He's more interactive and keen to play, so he's coming on day by day," she said.
"It'd be great if more people would sign up to do the firewalk, because I know from Jack's experience just how important Cerebral Palsy Scotland can be."
More details on Karen and David's firewalk can be found here.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
