Mothering Friday

10:19am Wednesday 16th April 2008

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TWO mums from York have joined forces to help our Guardian Angels Appeal by putting on a positive living day for fellow mums.

The More Than A Mum event will take place on Friday and is a free one-stop shop to help mothers get the most out of their lives.

It is the idea of Carole-Anne Melia and Catherine Holmes, who have both overcome major challenges during motherhood.

Carole-Anne, of Acomb, in York, is wheelchair-bound and suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome.

But the 41-year-old does not have time to think about her own problems because she has a four-year-old disabled son, Peter, to look after.

Peter was born with spina bifida, a serious defect of the spinal cord, and has already undergone one major operation.

Carole-Anne said: "At the moment he can walk, though he might need a wheelchair one day. He has one leg shorter than the other and has to have insteps in his shoes.

"The main thing is that he is incontinent. That's very hard for him.

"The other kids at school are starting to notice and call him names like baby' or smelly'.

"But he's a tough little thing. When he had his spinal operation when he was two, he didn't moan or cry or anything - he's been fantastic."

Carole-Anne knows more than anyone how important our Guardian Angels Appeal is.

She said: "When Peter had the operation, he had to go to Leeds because there was no high-dependency at York Hospital for him after the operation. Only one of us was able to stay over, so my husband, Pat, had to spend hours driving back and forwards all the time. It was really stressful."

Peter will return to the operating theatre this summer when he has bowel surgery to insert a special tube so he will no longer need nappies.

Catherine, who is editor of the quarterly magazine Mum's The Word, also experienced a tough start to motherhood, after suffering from post-natal depression.

The event will be held at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, in Fossgate, York, from 10am to 4pm.

It will include zones on pampering, learning, career changes, life-coaching, healthy eating and children's activities.

There will also be trading stands and the chance to get a free professional photo of your child.

A raffle and silent auction will be held in aid of our Guardian Angels appeal, which aims to raise £300,000 to fund life-saving high-dependency facilities for children at York Hospital.