The latest fundraising appeal is to raise £75,000 for a DXA scanner, which is vital in the diagnosis of bone disease. It will enable doctors toeffectively monitor treatment which can make a huge difference to a child's life – in some cases the difference between being wheelchair-bound and running around and bashing into things safely, like any child should be able to…

Charity director David Vernon Edwards said: "This is such an important piece of equipment which will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with bone disease. We are looking for donations from companies, organisations and individuals to help us raise the money needed to buy this life-changing scanner."

The scanner will be used by Prof Nick Bishop for bone disease studies and also in other departments assisting in the treatment of patients in oncology or with crohns disease and anorexia.

Nick Bishop is Europe's only Professor of Paediatric Bone Disease. He and his team offer the most comprehensive treatment for brittle bone disease in children anywhere in the UK and monitoring the effects of existing and new treatments depends in large part on the DXA scanner.

The team also undertake research into childhood osteoporosis and fractures and the DXA scanner again plays a major role in understanding how some children are at increased risk for fracture.

Case Study: Holly Girven

Eleven-year-old Holly Girven is getting ready to start secondary school later this year. The youngster, whose social life would put many to shame, swims for the East Midlands, plays the violin and is a Girl Guide – all despite the fact that she has brittle bones, the disease known as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), an inherited form of osteoporosis.

The condition meant that Holly, who lives in Gainsborough, was born with a fractured arm and two fractures in her left leg. During her early childhood she has suffered from many fractured bones.

Mum Lynne said: "The condition means that not only could she fracture a bone through doing nothing but also the doctors think that she suffers from aches and pains in her bones.

"Until Holly started treatment she was always quite cautious in her movements, rolling around but avoiding anything which might hurt or needed strength in her legs. She certainly had her bad days."

Thankfully it has been four-and-a-half years since Holly has suffered from a fracture. Aged just two-and-a-half she became one of the first children in the UK to receive a new drug treatment, part of groundbreaking trials at Sheffield Children's Hospital managed by Professor Nick Bishop.

For the first treatment Holly was give two four-hour infusions of the drug Pamodrinate on successive days and Lynne said the difference in Holly astounded everyone who knew her.

"It was like having a new daughter for my husband Jim and I. The difference was just incredible.

Holly was waking up in the morning feeling great."

Doctors broke the news to Lynne and her husband Jim that their daughter had OI when Holly was six months old. Lynne said: "Since that time we were hoping there would be a breakthrough in the treatment available. The drug has brought the benefits we were looking for."

Holly is still careful and knows her limitations but she is a determined girl and she is now walking with just the aid of crutches, which is a big step forward for her.

"She is a real busy bee, always out and about doing something. She is off to Guide camp soon and swims for the East Midlands disability squad.

"She still has to visit Sheffield Children's Hospital every five months and is checked out on the current DXA scanner. We know the importance of equipment such as this from first-hand experience.

"We hope that people will help the charity to raise the money necessary to buy a new scanner and help children like Holly."

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