Fundraiser ensures little Ellie's special education for the year

Published on Wednesday 13 May 2009 09:57

THE future education of a toddler with serious learning difficulties has been secured thanks to a fundraising evening.

Three-year-old Ellie Innes, from Wester Hailes, has microcephaly hemiplegia – a condition which causes paralysis down one side of her body.

She also has a rare problem with her chromosomes which medics have never seen before, and have therefore only given it a number rather than name it until they know more.

The Evening News reported last month that the city council would not fund her to go to a special school in Cumbernauld because it was outwith the area.

But thanks to a fundraising evening at Tynecastle last week more than 6,000 has been raised, which means she can attend the Craighalbert Centre for at least the next year.

Ellie attended the centre for a few months free of charge and her parents said they had never seen such improvement in her.

Mrs Innes said: "This will give Ellie three terms at Craighalbert and hopefully by then the council will come up with funding."