Hope’s School Ski Trip

My daughter, Hope would like to go on her school ski trip. Hope has Cerebral Palsy which effects her muscles, mainly lower limbs and balance. Hope uses a wheelchair and is able to walk with a walker (very short distances). Hope will need to utilise a sit ski (Biski Junior) instead of the usual standing ski's. Unfortunately the resort the school use do not have sit ski's. Therefore, we need to look at hiring or buying a Biski. I have investigated hiring one and have not found anywhere providing this service. To buy a Biski will cost approx £1600 Whilst on the trip Hope will need a sit ski instructor. All the children are recieving 4 hours of lessons per day. Hope's instructor will cost an additional £50 per hour. Totalling £1200. Hope will also need her own strapping to attach sit ski onto ski lifts and insurance for equipment. Hope's school are unable to provide an accessible coach or a carer/teaching assistant. The trip is not in term time. Therefore I will be Hope's personal assistant on the trip lifting her on and off the coach and enabling her on the slopes as well as other times. This will include pulling her up nursery slopes, possibly pulling her on a sledge to and from the slope. This will be no easy task and already I have started to train to get fit. The trip itself is £800 each. I have already budgeted to pay for Hope. I do not have funds for my fare. All pupils are expected to have ski lessons before they go to give them a taster and the basic skills. Hope has already started lessons at a cost of £50 each. This is approx £30 more than an able bodied person! Hope will have 1 lesson a month until she goes = £500. My daughter just wants to be like any other teenager and be able to go on her school ski trip. I am aware that not all children would be able to go due to cost etc. However, at present the trip will cost me an additional £4,300!!!!!!  I am trying in everyway to reduce this amount. I want Hope to experience all that she can. whilst she is still light (just) enough and I am still strong enough to assist her. Thank you for your support.