Brave Perrie takes on 1.5k run

ON the run . . . Four-year-old Perrie Royle

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A BRAVE four-year-old who was born without a hip joint will take on the Great Manchester Mini Run to celebrate her recovery.

Perrie Royle, from Failsworth, was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia when she was 15 months old.

The condition meant she could not walk properly and would be confined to a wheelchair if she did not undergo a major operation to rebuild her hip.

Before she was two years old, Perrie had surgery in which her pelvis had to be broken to make the hip more stable and then pins were inserted.

She spent three months in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and was confined to a body cast, known as a Spica, for that period in both hospital and at home.

The Spica stretched from under her arm and down to her legs, forcing her to remain in the same position for the three months.

Perrie managed to make a recovery and her parents Danielle (32) and Jamie (30) asked her if she wanted to take part in this year's Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run - and she is taking on the challenge.

Perrie will also be joined by her cousin Isabelle Miller on the 1.5k run.

She will be raising money for Scotty's Little Soldiers, a military bereavement charity, as her uncle Dale Miller is in the armed forces.

Dale supported the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity for Perrie when she was in hospital and Danielle said her daughter wants to thank him by completing an event on her own.

Danielle, who works as a cord blood collector, said: "Perrie still has reduced mobility and she has never run or walked this far before on her own, but she has a huge determination to complete the event with her cousin.

"She goes back annually to the hospital for X-rays and assessments and there is a chance she could get early arthritis in the future, so running this event is a massive achievement for her.

"I don't think a lot of people know about the effects of hip dysplasia and how a lot of the equipment, such as special chairs, has to be paid for by the families.

"It made us realise there will probably be some people who cannot afford that luxury and we wanted to make people more aware about the condition."

Perrie will be joined by 2,000 young runners at Manchester's biggest children's running event at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, May 27, part of a packed weekend of sport in the city.

It takes place the day before the main Great Manchester Run.

Entries for the Simplyhealth Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run are now open, visit Greatrun.org/Manchester.