Brave Faith's charity effort (From The Advertiser Series)

Brave Faith's charity effort

2:08pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News By Mark Tallentire, Reporter (Durham)

A SCHOOLGIRL who was told she would never walk is to take part in a sponsored walk for charity.

Faith Wilthew, 12, developed a saccrococygeal terratoma – a rare tumour – in her mother’s womb and doctors advised a termination.
However, her mother Kelly Wilthew refused.

When Mrs Wilthew gave birth six weeks prematurely, Faith had large tumours inside and on her body. She underwent emergency surgery within hours.

The operation was a success and, although Faith still takes medication every day and suffers pains and strains, she has grown to be a bright girl and a budding gymnast.

Now she is taking part in this year’s Paws for a Cause sponsored dog walk in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham.

She will walk with her mother and their four-month-old Chihuahua cross breed, Gem.

Mrs Wilthew, 31, from Ushaw Moor, near Durham, said: “Supporting a charity like St Cuthbert’s is so important to us all but particularly important to someone like Faith who has been through so much at such a young age.
“After everything she has been through she’s achieved so much and has turned a negative situation into something positive.
“She’s incredibly determined in everything she does – she rarely complains about how hard life has been.”

Faith recently won a scholarship to Durham High School for Girls and hopes to become a doctor.

Paws for a Cause, which has 1.5-mile and three-mile routes, will take place in Houghall Woods, near Durham, on Sunday, October 7.
Entry costs £10 per dog. To register, call 0191-3861170.