A brave Cupar youngster proudly led a charity fundraiser at the weekend, despite being badly injured in a freak accident only months ago.
Little Summer Wroniecki who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when she was only three was thrown “like a ragdoll” when a giant inflatable she was playing on at Cupar Children’s Gala was ripped from its moorings by a strong gust of wind in June.
She was thrown into a nearby fairground ride, suffering a fractured femur as well as cuts and bruises.
When she was rushed to hospital, medical staff discovered a plate that had recently been fitted in her hip had become dislodged.
It was a cruel blow for Summer, as she had only just stopped using crutches following a major hip operation that was needed following her cancer battle.
Summer’s Wee Walk which had been due to take place the next day to raise money for Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukamia’s lodge appeal and Castlehill Primary School had to be postponed.
Organised by parents Chris and Karen, with support from their friend Darren Liddle, it went ahead on Sunday, with Summer ditching her crutches to do circuits of Duffus Park.
“She is doing well. She is off her crutches and we are trying to get her to walk properly now,” Chris said.
“In fact, she has gone round the park twice, and has done two miles,” said the proud dad.
Chris admitted that when the accident happened, the family had thought, ‘Why us?’. “But you know what? We look at it now and think it could have been a heck of a lot worse,” he added.
“She had a broken femur but it could have been really bad,” he said.
Awaiting the findings of an investigation into that day, Chris added: “I think nobody goes out to hurt anybody.
“I am sure the Health and Safety Executive is dealing with all that, that is something still ongoing.”
He added the family had not talked about what, if any, action they would take.
“We will leave it, to see what happens with the HSE, and see the outcome before we even think about it,” he said.
Scores of families turned out to raise funds at the weekend, even though some could not make the re-arranged date.
Whatever has been raised will be boosted by Chris and Darren’s next adventure: walking the Great Wall of China.
“We are really looking forward to it and hopefully it will not be as tough as Kilimanjaro,” he added.