Mum’s mission to raise money to improve daughter’s quality of life

Catherine Eves

The mother of a Rochdale woman, who suffers from a rare illness, is organising a fundraising evening to raise money for a much needed piece of equipment to improve her daughter’s quality of life.

Catherine Eves, 26, suffers from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Autonomic Dysfunction and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

EDS is a connective tissue disorder and has no cure. Catherine suffers from a serious form of EDS that causes her to suffer daily joint dislocations, skin complications and vascular weakness.

POTS is a condition where the body fails to compensate for the effects of gravity and so the blood pools in the lower body causing rapid heart rate and dizziness/fainting.

Until a few years ago none of these things affected Catherine. She excelled at sports, had a good job and was studying management at College – and in her spare time she was learning to fly light aircraft.

Now Catherine has had to give up working and needs carers to help keep herself clean and dressed without dislocations.

Catherine needs a special chair so that her legs can be raised to help normalise blood flow and heart rate and the back can move independently to allow the best possible support of her weak, loose joints.

The chair will also be able to move Catherine into a semi standing position to allow safe transfers into her wheelchair.

The chair costs £1,200. In a bid to raise the money to buy the chair Catherine’s mum Heather Pautard has organised an evening of entertainment at China City in Rochdale. The event is on Tuesday 2 August at 7.00pm. Entertainment will be provided by David G Hollington and Tony Grant. Tickets are £20 and all money raised will be put towards the chair.

If there is any money left from the night that money will go towards financing trips to London to see specialist doctors.

Heather said: “Catherine is in a lot of pain, she can’t walk.

“It sounds dramatic, but its not, this chair could make her life a bit longer.

“Nothing can save her unfortunately, but this could help to extend her time while we still have her.”

Heather’s idea to hold the event came following a chance encounter with David Hollington at a concert prior to Catherine’s illness.

Mr Hollington sings songs from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Michael Buble. Whilst at a show he was looking for some one to dance with and danced with Catherine.

When Catherine became ill Heather contacted him to see if he remembered her. He did and was devastated to hear the news; he subsequently offered to sing at a fundraising event.

Heather said: “If people are moved to buy a ticket and come along hopefully it will be a successful night and make enough money to buy the chair.

“As her mum there is nothing I can do. It is so hard to watch her suffer. If I could just do something to help her physically and give her a better quality of life.

“I hope to make a success of the evening.”

She added: “When Catherine doesn’t need the chair it will be donated to another sufferer. If we lose Catherine before the money is spent it will go towards research.”

To buy tickets contact Heather on 01706 373265/07922278784