Hollie's wish to play in garden comes true
A junior football team has helped make a disabled girl's dream of being able to play in her garden a reality.
Netherton Colts regularly raise cash for good causes in the community and this year chose to support six-year-old Hollie Flatman.
More than £1,000 was raised by the club at three presentation evenings that saw sports memorabilia auctioned off and raffles held to boost the total.
Hollie, who lives in Netherton, was born with Type Three Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a genetic condition which affects the nerves that control muscle movement.
Her parents Paula and Toby, both 36, have spent years raising money for SMA charities and club officials decided they would also help.
The money raised has allowed Hollie's parents to convert their garden to make it accessible for their daughter.
As Hollie is in a wheelchair, it has always been difficult for her to get around the garden. The work includes installing ramps and levelling the ground to make it wheelchair-friendly.
Club chairman Carl Botley, said: "We found out about Hollie through one of our managers Steve Pooler, who works with Hollie's dad.
"We had three presentation evenings where we held a raffle – one included a Liverpool FC top – and managed to raise more than £1,000.
"Hollie's parents do so much fundraising themselves and the club felt it was time to give something back to them and Hollie."
Hollie, who attends St Mary's Catholic School in Brierly Hill, has always wanted to be able to invite her friends round for dinner and play in her garden.
Paula and Toby have already renovated the entire ground floor of their house to suit Hollie's needs.
Paula said: "Hollie is always invited to play at her friends houses after school, but as she is in a wheelchair it is just too difficult.
"All she wants is to be independent and be able to play with her friends in the garden and now we can make the necessary changes for her.
"We completed the downstairs work earlier this year so Hollie's bedroom and wetroom are all easy access for her. If we can manage to get the garden done for summer so she can go out and play would just be the icing on the cake for us.
"We cannot thank the club enough for what they have done for us; it has just been so overwhelming.
"We are so used to giving to charities so receiving from the club has been incredibly heart-warming."
