Shropshire Star

Flying high for charity

Beth Smith's parents are so grateful to surgeons at Birmingham Children's Hospital for saving the life of their one-year-old daughter, they are raising thousands of pounds for the hospital.

Published
Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt who plays Paddy Kirk helps Beth Smith draw the raffle watched by parents Peter and Claire

Peter and Claire Smith from Bishop's Castle, will be taking flight, along with two work colleagues, later this month in their latest money making challenge.

They are being sponsored to do a zipwire challenge in Snowdonia for the children's hospital.

Butcher, Mr Smith, said: "This is a big deal for me as I hate heights but it's for a great cause."

The challenge will take place on October 23 and those wanting to sponsor the daredevil team can do so online at https://www.facebook.com/events/177076629508174.

They can also call into the Jamie Ward butchers in the Churchstoke shopping centre.

Earlier this year Beth, who was born with her skull fused together, underwent a five-hour operation at the specialist hospital in Birmingham which left her with rods inside her skull on a temporary basis.

"Every day we had to expand the rods by two millimetres to help her skull to grow," Mr Smith said.

A complication meant Beth had to be rushed back to hospital and have the rods removed a couple of weeks early but surgeons hope they had done their job enough for her skull to cope as she is growing up.

Recently, Mr Smith organised a pub quiz and raffle, which saw Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt who plays Paddy Kirk draw the raffle. Top prize was a £200 tandem flight experience prize with Mark Leavesley, the pilot from Running Wild with Bear Grylls.

“We can’t thank Birmingham Children’s Hospital enough for the team’s amazing work. They saved our daughter’s life and she’s now doing incredibly well – she’s one happy baby."