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Wayne’s story is one of gratitude and giving back. After the MCF supported his daughter’s surgery, Wayne was determined to raise money and help others receive the same life-changing support.

According to Scoliosis Support & Research, the condition can develop at any age. However, it most often begins in children between the ages of 10 and 15. In the UK, around three in every 1,000 children need treatment for scoliosis.

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents. While scoliosis can occur in people with conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most childhood scoliosis is not known. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some curves worsen as children grow.

When Wayne’s daughter, Freya, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of scoliosis aged 12, the family were worried about her future.

Following his daughter’s diagnosis, Wayne began to blame himself for not spotting the signs of her condition sooner. As a paramedic, he felt guilty that Freya’s scoliosis had gotten so bad and gone unnoticed. Typically, when the curvature of the spine goes beyond 40 degrees, surgery is vital. At diagnosis, Freya’s spine had a curvature of 74 degrees, meaning she was in dire need of intervention.

Like many people following a diagnosis, Freya faced a long wait for surgery. Since COVID, pressures on the NHS have led to increased waiting times for many. That’s when Wayne decided to reach out for help. He was approached by the Provincial Grand Charity Steward of Dorset who informed him about the support the MCF can provide. When we told him we would be able to cover the costs of his daughter’s surgery reduce her wait, he felt the weight immediately lifted off his shoulders.

Freya’s six-hour surgery involved the insertion of two titanium rods against her spine in order to  straighten it. She made a full recovery and was able to return to school after just two months.

As Wayne and his family rebuilt their lives following Freya’s surgery, he had a growing desire to  repay the MCF for the support his family had received and he became active fundraiser for the MCF.

Wayne himself had been medically discharged from the military on account of a lower-leg injury, which means walking can be very painful for him. In spite of this, he decided to embark on the challenge of walking backwards for 76.9 miles to raise money for the MCF and Scoliosis Research.

Together with a fellow officer, he walked the equivalent of nearly three marathons starting from where Freya was diagnosed in Portland, all the way to where she had her operation in Southampton.

Wayne was determined not only to show his gratitude to the MCF, but also to raise awareness for scoliosis.

The event took him five days to complete and Wayne was able to raise just short of £10,000 which was split between the two charities.

Thanks to his incredible fundraising efforts, Wayne has helped the MCF and Scoliosis Research to provide support to many others who may have been in his position.

Find out how you can support our work by visiting: mcf.org.uk/Financial-BL14