Parents of girl seriously injured in A27 collision need your help

The mother of a girl seriously injured in a car accident is raising money for her treatment by abseiling down Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower.
Rachel taking part in a charity event with mum Sharon.Rachel taking part in a charity event with mum Sharon.
Rachel taking part in a charity event with mum Sharon.

Partners Sharon Partridge and Vernon Why, of North Farm Road, Lancing, are organising the sponsored abseil after their 16-year-old daughter Rachel was struck by a car on the A27.

Rachel was crossing the lights before the Manor roundabout in Lancing in March when she had the accident. She was flown by air ambulance to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, before being transferred to an intensive care unit in University Hospital Southampton.

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She was in a coma for three weeks during which doctors had trouble scanning her eyes.

Now Sharon is abseiling later this year to raise £6,000 to buy a pupil scanner for PICU – the paediatric unit that is treating Rachel.

Vernon said: “It’s a long and slow process and it has been very tough. Anybody that has a child supported by PICU is going through a difficult time. This is the reason why we would like to help PICU as a thank-you from us for all the dedicated hard work they have provided.

“Rachel needs all her feistiness for the long road ahead. People who know her will know that she is very feisty and she will need that now.”

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Rachel also spent two weeks in Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice in Arundel, before being taken back to Southampton.

She is still being looked after by PICU, and it is unknown how long it will take to recover.

Sharon has stayed with her every step of the way, and is currently residing in Ronald McDonald house, one of an independent McDonald’s charity’s 14 houses across the country that provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families who have seriously ill children in hospital nearby, who allow tenants to stay free of charge if they are looking after family in the hospital.

The abseil will take place on June 12, with all proceeds going to the charity Friends of PICU.

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Vernon added: “Any contributions that anyone can give us at all will be very appreciated.”

Donations can be made to the BT mydonate page , or email [email protected]

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