A kind-hearted seven year-old girl is using her condition as a super power to raise money for ‘poorly kids’.
Amelia Broadbent from Leeds is not letting her ADHD stop her achieving amazing things in life, whether that’s being a fashion model, actress or dancer. After being diagnosed at four-years-old, she has used it to become more confident in herself and calls it a ‘superpower’ instead of a hindrance.
Now, she is putting her powers to the test as she aims to complete the Leeds Mini and Junior on Father’s Day, June 15, to raise money for the Candlelighters charity. This was something of a personal mission for Amelia after being inspired by her dad Terry Broadbent, 37, who was a former professional boxer.
“We were sitting in a café watching Terry run the Leeds marathon when Amelia saw a sign for the mini and junior marathon,” Amelia’s mum, Bryony Broadbent, said. “Terry had raised a lot of money for charity and Amelia said ‘well I want to do a run’.
“So I asked her what would she run for and she said, ‘well daddy is doing it for poorly children who have cancer, can I do the same?
“I said of course you can.
“So after the run we spoke to the team Candlelighters at Headingley Stadium.
“After signing up she was then sent a T-shirt.”
Amelia has been using her spare time, outside school and other extra-curriculum activities to train for the marathon and has almost raised £1,000. But one thing is still on Amelia’s mind, and that is beating her dad’s fundraiser which was £1,700.
Bryony, 32, a childminder, said: “Amelia is adamant that she wants to beat Terry’s target.
“She would really like to get to the £1,000 mark as that means one of the poorly children and family gets to go on holiday.
“So as well as sponsorships, we have done a raffle as well.
“I am a childminder so a lot of the kids have been watching her run at night to support her.
“She is very determined and keeps saying that she just wants to raise as much money as she can to help, the ‘poorly children’ as much as she can.
“Amelia has ADHD so once she gets her mind set on something then she is determined to do it.
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“She is very athletic, she does her dancing, modelling and acting – so I think it is also the case of it being a bit of a competition between her and her dad as she just wants to beat him.”
Bryony said it hasn’t always been easy with Amelia. She said: “Before she was diagnoses with ADHD, there were times where she was quite challenging for us as parents.
“She could not control her emotions and lash out.
“We had to pay for a private diagnosis and went on medication – but she has come leaps and bounds since then especially at school.”
Amelia and her mum have been uploading her training before the big day arrives. On the profile she says that her ADHD is her superpower.