Elgin venue staging Bodycombat challenge to help Moray youngster Zoey and others with cystic fibrosis

A ‘Bodycombat’ challenge is being held in Moray this weekend to help this baby girl and others like her.

Zoey Moir from Elgin was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was just 19 days old. In response her mum, Heather, has organised a six-hour keep fit event on Saturday at New Elgin Hall to help fund research.

Cystic fibrosis is a rare condition that slowly destroys the lungs and digestive system.

Currently there’s still no cure for it, but medicines have been developed over recent years that make a dramatic difference.

Back during the 1980s the average life expectancy was only in the 30s, while now it’s climbed into the 60s.

Zoey’s condition was detected following a heel prick test, a procedure performed in the week after a baby is born in which a small spot of their blood is taken for analysis.

Heather, who lives in New Elgin with her husband Lee, said: “I’d obviously heard of cystic fibrosis before Zoey was diagnosed but didn’t particularly know anything about it.

“When the consultant told us that she had it we were devastated. Our first question was, ‘how long has she got?’

“But their response was, ‘No, no, no, it’s not like that.”

Zoey is now eight-and-a-half months old and, like any other youngster her age, she’s into everything.

Heather’s goal now is to help the professionals find a cure, which is why she’s organised tomorrow’s fundraising event in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

She says: “I want Zoey to grow up and live her life safe in the knowledge that cystic fibrosis is not going to hold her back in any way.”

Heather is a long-time keep-fit instructor, who took up Bodycombat three years ago and has been teaching it for the past two.

Designed to burn calories, relieve stress and build muscle, it’s a workout that incorporates moves from karate, boxing, Kung Fu and other martial arts. It’s also entirely non-contact.

Heather and ten other instructors will be at New Elgin Hall on Land Street between 10am-5pm on Saturday, April 26.

During that time there will be six hours of sessions.

It’s a £25 donation to take part – and for that you can join one session, two sessions or even exercise for a full six hours.

Alternatively, the family has set up a JustGiving page, which has already raised nearly £1500.

Go to the website and type ‘heather moir cystic fibrosis trust’ into the search box.