While many parents across the country are faced with the dilemma of how to keep their kids fit and healthy within the confines of a socially distanced world, the parents of 11-year-old Ryan Seyler from Malvern can be justifiably proud of their son’s activities this summer.

Having been diagnosed with hemiplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, at two years old, as well as coeliac disease, Ryan has faced more than his fair share of challenges in life but takes them all on with a steely determination and positivity. Mum Emily, 42, says, “The best way to get Ryan to do something is to tell him he can’t. Guaranteed, he’ll do his best to prove you wrong!”

Ryan’s diagnosis came after Emily and her husband Mark, 53, realised their toddler was a little slower and less mobile than his peers, with his right arm tending to fix in an upright position. They were advised to see a paediatrician, and following an MRI scan, cerebral palsy was confirmed.

Ryan’s condition affects his right side, and he is treated with regular Botox injections to relax the muscles in his leg and foot, alongside physiotherapy sessions and having his leg placed in a cast to provide a continuous stretch for his muscles.

Through August he’s undergoing a series of treatment, travelling to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, where medics will place his foot in a stretch position and fit a cast to hold the muscles in a stretch for a week, before he returns to have the procedure repeated.

The process will last for several weeks, with Ryan required to undertake regular exercise to keep the muscles flexible. He’s taking the opportunity to set himself a fundraising challenge for Help for Heroes, a charity he’s supported since he was just 6 years old, when he first took part in the Malvern Hills Challenge with his Beaver pack.

The fundraising walk, which sees its 10th anniversary this year, has been postponed for 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but organisers are encouraging anyone who would have taken part in the event to fundraise in a safe, socially distanced way, like Ryan, who’s set up his own 30 day challenge as part of Help for Heroes’ Step 2 It campaign. He’ll be doing 5,000 steps every day to raise funds for wounded veterans.

His mum Emily says, “Ryan needs to undertake gentle exercise every day as part of his physiotherapy during his treatment, so we’re delighted that he can do something positive by fundraising for a charity he adores this summer.”

Ryan’s father Mark served in the Royal Artillery from 1986 to 1991 and several of Emily’s family have served in the US Forces, but it’s the annual walking event through the iconic Malvern Hills which brought the family to Help for Heroes.

Emily says, for Ryan, the opportunity to fundraise for wounded veterans has given him a real sense of purpose, “We’ve talked to him a lot about the men and women who Help for Heroes supports,” she says, “and for him it’s the realisation that there are people out there who have their own injuries, whether hidden or visible, who have served our country, and the he can do his bit, and help them.  It gives him a huge sense of satisfaction, realising what he can do, and what he is capable of, rather than focusing on limitations.”

She adds that Ryan dreams of joining the military himself in the future, “He’d love to go into cyber security, and hopefully by the time he’s old enough, conditions like his won’t be seen as a barrier to a career in the armed forces.  He’s always been very focused on what he can achieve, rather than what he can’t.”

One of the organisers of the Malvern Hills Challenge, Tony Potter, 59 from Strensham, near Pershore, says the team behind the event are disappointed that it can’t go ahead in September, and had hoped this year’s activities would push their fundraising total for the decade to over £100,000, and were planning to welcome the charity’s CEO Melanie Waters along to take part in the walk for the second consecutive year, but they understand that the safety of everyone has to come first. “And Mel Waters has promised she’ll come next year, so we’ll look forward to her support then,” Tony adds.

Having got to know the Seyler family over the last six years, Tony is proud of Ryan as an example of how the event has brought together generations and communities from across the region. “He’s a smashing little chap, who embodies the spirit of the challenge,” Tony says, “He is plucky, determined and willing to push himself to help others. He’s a really inspirational lad, and a pleasure to know.”

Tony’s also setting himself a Step 2 It challenge and will be meeting up with Ryan and his family at a safe social distance, to cheer each other along and motivate one another through their fundraising.

Over the years Ryan has raised almost £500 for Help for Heroes and Emily says she encourages his fundraising as it “gives him a chance to make good memories, to balance out the challenges he faces.

Emily says lockdown presented a familiar dilemma to her family as was faced by others across the country – how to keep her children entertained and active when their usual activities have been put on hold. Having given up her teaching job after Ryan was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 2, Emily is a full time mum and used to juggling the logistics of Ryan’s regular medical appointments across the country with school for Ryan and his sister Natalie, 12 and younger brother Lucas, 9.

She says exercise has helped the family stay positive during the last few months. “Usually our week consists of Natalie’s dance class, six times a week, then there’s athletics, running club and we all volunteer or run at the local parkrun.  We’re a very active family normally, so having the focus of a daily walk really helped us get through the days, especially facing the frustrations of trying to home school three children of different ages. Like everyone else, it’s been a challenge!”

Ryan and Emily will be joining Tony Potter and some of the other Malvern-based Help for Heroes supporters for a socially distanced fundraising finale on Sunday 30th August.

David Martin, Head of Supporter Fundraising at Help for Heroes, comments, “We’re so grateful for what Ryan, Tony and everyone who supports the Malvern Hills Challenge and Step 2 It are doing for us – what an inspirational bunch! We know from research that there has been a big increase in veterans telling us that they aren’t managing their mental and physical health so well since the start of the pandemic, so the need for support is greater than ever, but we’re also having to manage a 40% drop in income at the same time. People like Ryan and Tony, doing amazing fundraising events like this, truly are the lifeblood of the charity.”

To support Ryan’s fundraising go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ryanrunsmalvern