We are really pleased to announce that the Living by Giving Trust has been able to facilitate the donation of a hot tub for Millie, and are very grateful to HotSpring World for their donation. Thank you to Terri Betts for organising and coordinating this. The Trust have worked with Millie and her family for a number of years, and are so pleased that the hot tub is already giving Millie such relief from her constant pain. You can still help us support Millie, by reading more here or donating here.

For more on this story, please read the press release below.

Press Release:

HotSpring World delighted Millie’s hot tub is a resounding success

After receiving a letter from the Living by Giving Trust , a Trust designed to enhance the living qualities of the less fortunate, HotSpring World has donated one of their products to a little girl with a big heart.

Millie is nine years old and is from Milton Keynes. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). A genetic condition, MLD is extremely rare. It is thought only one in 40,000 people are afflicted with it. It affects nerves, muscles, organs and even behaviour. The life expectancy of MLD sufferers ranges between 10 and 15 years of age.

Living by Giving’s current project is ‘Young People New Experiences’. In Millie’s case, the charity’s aim was to give her an opportunity to live comfortably, without the constant pain that is a symptom of the condition.

In the months before the appeal to HotSpring World, Millie’s parents took her to a hydrotherapy centre near their home. The results were amazing. Having seemingly lost the ability to smile, once in the water her beautiful grin had returned to her face. The feeling of weightlessness that the hot tub provided gave Millie a welcome respite from the constant discomfort she felt being strapped into a wheelchair. In order to give Millie this enjoyment on a day to day basis, Living by Giving acted and HotSpring World responded.

The story doesn’t end there, either. The hot tub Millie received was initially put up as a prize in a competition they were running with a publication called What Pool & Hot Tub. The winner, a lady named Hayley Turner, was not able to claim her prize. Hayley has a daughter herself that suffers from cerebral palsy, and has seen the wonders hydrotherapy can do. After hearing of the appeal, Hayley was adamant she wanted the hot tub to be donated to Millie. She went on to say ‘I think it’s great that this charity are seeking help for someone that really needs and deserves it’

Millie’s story has touched so many people along the way. The chairman of the Living by Giving Trust, Matt Betts said: ‘We were really pleased to be able to facilitate the donation of a hot tub for Millie, and are very grateful to HotSpring World for their donation. The Trust have worked with Millie and her family for a number of years, and are so pleased that the hot tub is already giving Millie such relief from her constant pain.’

This is a sentiment that was echoed by HotSpring World. Lynda Smart stated ‘we are absolutely delighted to help Millie in her long battle against MLD. Knowing the benefits hydrotherapy has on conditions such as Millie’s, we are proud to have contributed such a worthwhile asset to her life.

‘Hearing the struggles she has to go through on a daily basis, and the efforts her parents and carers go to in order to ensure she is as comfortable as possible, we hope that this hot tub will make all of their lives a little easier.