THIS 11-year-old Newport girl received a life-changing operation thanks to the help of charity Sparkle.

Now her family is backing the Argus and Sparkle appeal to raise £10,000 for an “equipment library” to help children with disabilities.

St Joseph’s RC Primary School pupil Chiara Molinaro suffers from arthrogryposis, a condition of the joints, which means she has very little movement of her upper limbs.

Earlier this year, Chiara underwent a pioneering operation organised by Sparkle to have a tendon transfer in one of her arms, which meant that she now has some arm movement.

“Chiara has been going to Sparkle since it opened and attends splint clinics at the Serennu Centre and sees her occupational therapist and her paediatrician,” her mum Miss Molinaro said.

“She also leaned to swim there and had aqua therapy sessions.

“We go once a month to Sparkle and they are so brilliant with her – it’s such a nice place to go.

“If there was an equipment library it would be massive help for children, giving them the chance to try the equipment first and it would be financially better.”

Sparkle hopes that if the equipment is on site it will provide children with a way to explore the equipment in a more relaxing environment – at a time when many parents are upset by equipment highlighting their child’s disability.

The campaign backed by the Argus aims to provide items that support a child’s mobility and independence including a Quest 88 Walking Frame – a walking aid for children requiring additional support – and a Nessie – a positioning system for supporting a child normally with a more severe disability, in a variety of positions on the floor.

Chiara, who is a British Trampoline Champion 2014 in the ladies’ disability category and also the winner of the Welsh Schools Trampoline Competition 2014, has not let her condition affect her love of sport.

“She is a very independent, quite feisty, normal cheeky 11-year-old,” her mum Miss Molinaro added.

“I would urge people to donate to the Sparkle appeal as it is such a good place.”

The Greggs Foundation has already donated £2,000 to this appeal but Sparkle still needs your support.

Lisa Pearson, business development manager at Sparkle, said: “The Sparkle Serennu Children’s Centre is an amazing place that gives support to so many local children.

“We hope to provide them with an equipment library so they have the opportunity to try a variety of things to help their development.”

To donate Text SGCF14 then amount to 70070.

For example SGCF1410 to donate £10.

Donations can also be made by calling the office on 01633 748 092 and asking for business development manager Lisa Pearson.

THE equipment library we would like to provide will consist of:

• TinyTRAX chair, £6,000. A powered wheelchair which would enable children aged from 20 months to eight to learn the foundation skills for driving an electric wheelchair.

• Quest 88 Walking Frame, £317. 50. It is a basic rollator walking aid for children requiring additional support to walk. Without the aid of equipment like this he child has no freedom to move around independently.

• Nessie, £225. This is a positioning system for supporting a child normally with a more severe disability, in a variety of positions on the floor. This will help them to develop skills, strengthening muscles and enable them to engage in play activities.

• Wiz K walker, £540. This is a forward facing walker which can be used for assessing a child which developmental delay. This is often the first walker to be introduced to a small child which supports and enhances the child’s mobility and gives then freedom to move around.

• 2x Gymnic anti burst physio roll plus peanut, £94.41. These peanut shaped therapy balls are used for children with complex needs to develop strength and movement skills.

• W1 Kaye Walker, £588. This is a forward facing foldable walker by Quest 88 for use in assessment and treatment sessions.

• Leckey Squiggles Stander, £1,500. This is an early years standing frame which can be used prone, upright and supine. This stander can be used to assess a child’s needs into an initial standing frame

• Small Pacer walker, £1,349. This is a supportive walker for a child with complex physical needs which can be used for both assessment and treatment purposes.