Ada Minton from Swindon has Leukodystrophy, and will be taking on the fully-inclusive Parallel Games in aid of the children's charity, Variety.
The Parallel Games takes part in Windsor Park on Sunday 2 July.
It is a flagship project that celebrates diversity and inclusivity and welcomes people of all ages and abilities. Participants have the choice of 100m, 1k, 5k, 10k, and a sensory 1k.
Ada will be racing with her mum, Loran Minton (38), dad, Chris Minton (33), and her twin brother, Alfred Minton (6).
Ada has Leukodystrophy, which affects the white matter of her brain and stops her muscles from receiving messages from her brain properly. As a result, she has problems with her speech, motor skills, and balance. She uses a wheelchair for mobility and requires a car seat for safety.
As Ada grew, she needed a new car seat, but her family said they needed help as her muscle development was so behind other children her age and she had a lot of weakness in her neck. Variety, the Children’s Charity were able to source and fund the perfect car seat for Ada that keeps her safe.
The children’s charity, provides practical support to disabled and disadvantaged children and young people. They supply wheelchairs, specialist equipment, experiences on their Great Days Out, and their fully accessible Sunshine Coaches for SEND schools.
Ada and her family will be taking part in the Parallel Games on behalf of Variety, the Children’s Charity.
Loran said explained: “We were invited by Variety to take part in the Parallel Games and when we watched the video, we just thought it was an incredible event – so inclusive and really special. Ada will absolutely love it!
“Trying to work things out as a family of four and do things that interest and include both children is tough. Ada can become very frustrated with her body’s limitations and this can be tough on Alfred too, as sometimes we have to leave or miss things, though this is rare as Chris and I do everything we can because we don’t want either of our children to miss out on anything.
“Alfred can always make Ada laugh and he is just amazing with her. Ada and Alfred are beautiful inside and out: they are both so caring and their love for each other is so strong and they have such a wonderful twin bond. This is why the Parallel Games is so special as it’s something we can all do together.”
Ada, Loran, Chris, and Alfred will be cheered on at the Parallel Games by their family and friends.
Loran said: “Ada is so strong and she never lets her disability stop her from doing what she wants. Ada’s diagnosis is ongoing and her neurologist and the genetics team are still trying to find out which specific type of Leukodystrophy Ada has. The hardest thing for us is the not knowing.
"Leukodystrophy is predominantly a progressive disease and we still have a lot of unanswered questions, but we all just take each day as it comes and try not to think too far ahead.
“Ada is just one of a kind. Everyone who meets her loves her and she can light up a room with her laugh. She is cheeky and definitely a diva – she is the boss at home!
“We are all just so looking forward to taking part in the Parallel Games. Alfred is adamant he is going to win! But mainly we all just want to have fun and make memories as a family. Ada is definitely excited to race and I think she’ll enjoy the sensory race the most: she watched the video of the games from last year about three times.
“Chris and I are looking forward to all of it and just seeing the children happy and all the other people involved. We just think it’s so refreshing to have such an inclusive event.
“We are so proud of Ada and Alfred. We couldn’t ask for more perfect children, despite all the difficulties and heartache they have had to face. With all that Ada has been through and the obstacles she faces daily, they are both still happy, funny, kind, beautiful children and we are in awe of them both.”
To find out more about Variety, the Children’s Charity, members of the public can visit: https://www.variety.org.uk/
To find out more about the Parallel Games, individuals can go to: https://www.parallellifestyle.com/windsor2023
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