A COURAGEOUS youngster is using pedal power to battle not one, but two genetic diseases.
Francesca McEwan from Shipston, is managing her cystic fibrosis (CF) by daily pedalling sessions on a new indoor exercise bike, thanks to a £2,000 grant from medical charity WPH Charitable Trust.
Both of ten year-old Francesca’s conditions, which includes Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) – a disease affecting muscle tissue and the nervous system – are kept at bay by regular exercise.
Physical activity helps the ten year-old keep her airways clear, as well as supporting normal bone and muscle development.
The bike keeps Francesca busy with its various programmes – and she even challenges her friends to break her record times.
Her mum Anne said: “It has been used almost every day since it was installed and Francesca is really enjoying it, especially when she feels like she is pedalling around various tracks which she can pick on the lap top.”
Oxford Children’s Hospital helped Anne apply for the grant from the Trust, which aims to help prevent, relieve and cure sickness in the region.
Visit www.warwickshirehealthcharity.org.uk for further details.
