An appeal has been launched to make one young lady's birthday extra special this year.

Molly May Rainbird will become a teenager this month and as she turns 13 her family have launched the unique appeal on her behalf.

For Molly, from Stalybridge, was diagnosed with a life-limiting form of Batten’s Disease back in 2019.

Despite the devastating news, her family and friends all rallied round at the time to make every element of her life extra special and primarily to send her on the trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Paris.

Children at her school, then St Paul’s CofE Primary in Stalybridge clubbed together to raise funds.

While individuals and businesses also helped, including your Tameside Reporter and Tameside Radio, donating £1,000 to help send Molly on her dream holiday trip.

Quest Media Network Chair Chris Bird presented the cheque from the business to Molly and her family at the time.

It meant Molly, who still loves everything Disney, was able to see her Disney dream come true with a four-night trip, meeting her Disney princess heroes and celebrating her 11th birthday there.

Sadly Molly’s condition means her health has continued to deteriorate.

Molly is very sadly now blind, tube fed and wheelchair-bound.

However, the quest to create special memories for her continues and she still loves everything Disney, plus Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Molly’s gran Helen Ingham said: “She listens to the football and is a big Manchester United fan and loves Ronaldo.

“She also loves all things Disney and we listen to the films and sing along to the them together and even though she is non- verbal now she still joins in.”

But Helen said Molly’s brave fight has been a heartbreaking journey as her health deteriorates and she thanked local charity Reuben’s Retreat for their help and support especially.

“She is an amazing little girl and she doesn’t deserve this or to be hid away in the shadows,” added Helen.

Molly moved on from St Paul’s in Stalybridge to attend Oakdale and Cromwell schools, but with Covid and then being too poorly herself, it means today she is cared for full-time at home by her mum Adele and Helen and she sadly has no school friends.

So her family are hoping to make her 13th birthday a special one by asking everyone to send her a birthday card on her big day - Tuesday, January 25.

Adele said: “With no treatment and no cure, this is a huge bonus for us to be able to celebrate her birthday again this year as next year is not promised and due to Covid, Molly’s last two birthdays have been very restricted.

“I would love for this birthday to be super super special for her, she has had a terrible year in the respect of disease progress and lots of hospital admissions due to lots of different issues.”

Adele added: “I was hoping that Molly could have a super special birthday this year and it would be amazing if as many people as possible could send a card to her for her birthday to cheer her up.

“If anyone would like to send Molly a birthday card it would be so much appreciated as she deserves the most special birthday.”

You can send Molly a birthday card to 34 Poplars Road, Stalybridge, SK15 3EN. 

Adele added: “I would love nothing more than my beautiful, precious girl to have the most amazing birthday, I live in hope it isn’t her last, but unfortunately Battens Disease is so unpredictable, I just want to make what time Molly still has super super special.”

To start the appeal, we publish our own birthday wishes to Molly and would like to encourage everyone to send Molly a birthday card too. 

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