Toddler born with two holes in heart defies doctors with charity walk round Northamptonshire village

Six months after learning to walk - determined two-year-old Sophie Cousins has already raised £600 for Barnardo’s
Sophie has proved doctors wrong with her charity walkSophie has proved doctors wrong with her charity walk
Sophie has proved doctors wrong with her charity walk

Simone Cousins was told her baby might would not be able to walk when she was born - but two years later little Sophie is walking miles for charity

Sophie, of Kislingbury, has surpassed her £50 target for Barnardo's Big Toddle Walk by £550 after walking 4.5 miles round her village.

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Sophie was born with Apert Syndrome - a premature fusion of the fingers, toes and head - and two holes in her heart in May 2018.

She was out everyday last week - as part of the national campaign - walking with her mum.She was out everyday last week - as part of the national campaign - walking with her mum.
She was out everyday last week - as part of the national campaign - walking with her mum.

As a baby she spent the first ten days of her life in the neonatal unit at Northampton General Hospital before she was briefly moved to John Radcliffe.

Doctors told Sophie's mum, Simone, there were chances her baby would never be able to walk, talk and possibly have learning difficulties.

At four months old, Sophie had open heart surgery at Great Ormond Street hospital and last year had more operations to separate her little finger from her index finger on both hands.

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Last week, every day, Sophie got up and proved the doctors wrong by walking miles round her village with her mum for charity - only months after learning to walk.

Simone said: "I was completely in shock. After every walk she did it would go up by another £100 if not more. I didn’t think many people would sponsor her due to the current circumstances and some people not working but she had over 50 sponsors. I am just so thankful to everyone who did sponsor Sophie.

"Sophie has always made me so proud and has always bounced back from everything she has been through. She has made the whole lock down period so much easier for me and has continued to make me proud by how well she is doing with the fundraising.

"We all need a bit of positivity in our lives at the moment and thought what better way than to share our positive story too."

If you would like to donate to Sophie's fundraising page, click here.