By Pamela McGowan Health reporter

Last updated at 07:53, Friday, 15 May 2009

Olivia Story is a happy little girl with a sunny smile who, like any other five-year-old, is full of energy and fun.

Dave O’Roarty and Olivia Story

But just under three years ago Olivia contracted meningitis and almost died.

She lost the blood supply to three of her limbs and had to have both her legs and one of her arms amputated.

But brave Olivia, of Lazonby Terrace, Harraby, Carlisle, has never let it hold her back and today runs around like other children, just on prosthetic legs.

At the moment she can get these from the NHS but as she gets older and more body conscious she will inevitably want more realistic limbs.

The only way to get these is to go private – but to do this her parents, Mike Story and Kim Brown, will need to find tens of thousands of pounds.

They are determined their daughter will get the legs she deserves and, with the help of one kindhearted Pirelli worker, are kick-starting a campaign to help pay for them.

Father-of-three Dave O’Roarty was so inspired by Olivia’s bravery that he has decided to embark on the biggest physical challenge of his life – cycling 186 miles in just two days.

The 43-year-old shift manager, of Sandsfield Park, signed up for the Coast to Coast bike ride after two of his colleagues, Ralph Elliot and Darren Irving, came up with the idea. They all decided to pick their own charities and for Dave, a friend of Olivia’s family, there was one cause that stood out.

He said: “I don’t think anyone could fail to be touched by Olivia. She is just amazing.

“I decided right away to do it for her and so many people want to support me.”

As far as cycling goes, Dave admits to being a novice and knows the Route 72 challenge is going to be really tough.

He will leave Ravenglass on July 17 and cycle 88 miles to Carlisle on the first day. Leaving at 6am the next day, he will cycle to Newcastle, covering another 98 miles.

Dave, who is married to Zoe and has three kids, Kieran, 10, Taigh, seven, and two-year-old Niamh, has already raised £1,000 thanks to the support of friends and colleagues.

He hopes to double that amount between now and the ride and is planning a charity night to boost his total.

Every penny he raises will help make a big difference to Olivia’s life as she grows up.

Olivia is now coming towards the end of her first year at Caldew Lea School, and is growing so fast she needs new legs about three times a year.

Soon she is also going to trial a new myoelectric arm, which uses her nerves to control a special pincer grip.

Mum Kim said that at the moment Olivia, who has a brother Josh, 13 and sister Amber, 10, is happy with less realistic prosthetics but as she gets older there is a lot that can be done to make them more realistic.

This includes adding realistic looking skin so she will be able to wear heels and skirts with confidence, just like her friends. But the stark reality is that these ‘luxuries’ are only available to families who can afford to shell out tens of thousands of pounds for them.

Kim and Mike said the last thing they want is to get to that stage and have to tell their daughter they can’t afford them – which is why they are now raising money to put away into a special trust fund.

To support Olivia’s appeal you can contact her parents via the website www.oliviastory.co.uk, her Facebook group, by calling her parents on 01228 532287 or emailing michaeljstory@hotmail.com.

First published at 05:17, Friday, 15 May 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk