Some 30 children have received vital equipment and support through a new Townsville service and expanded equipment library, which was funded by the local community and Disability Services Queensland.

This includes two-year old Townsville resident Tahlea Russell, who has learnt to walk for the very first time using a walking device and has also significantly improved her communication skills.

Tahlea’s achievement has been made possible through the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland’s Child and Family Support Services in Townsville, which was launched earlier this year.

Tahlea and nine other local children will host a thankyou picnic this Saturday in honour of their “life-changing” donors including local businesses and residents.

The children, many who have cerebral palsy, will show off their new walking and communication devices at the celebratory picnic.  Devices include specially modified wheelchairs, tricycles, walkers and innovative seating systems.

Tahlea’s Mum Rochelle Russell says the League’s service and equipment library has provided welcome support to fast-track her daughter’s development.

“Tahlea was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at ten months old and since then her development has been frustratingly slow,” said Rochelle.

“Since the League’s full-time service opened, it has ignited a fire in me and provided a light at the end of the tunnel for Tahlea’s development,” she said.

The League’s Child and Family Support Services provides five-day-a-week support to some 100 families who have a child with cerebral palsy and other disabilities within a 150km radius from Townsville, with outreach services to Mt Isa and Cairns.