Blackrod Church School help launch cycling helmet campaign

Kasey Alker was involved in the collision while cycling on Manchester Road, Blackrod in August.

The nine-year-old suffered a fractured skull and was treated in hospital for five days.

The accident happened when the youngster was cycling to her grandmother’s house to pick up her helmet at the corner of Vicarage Road going onto New Street.

Kasey is now back at Blackrod Church School and will soon be able to take part in PE again.

The family have teamed up with the school to launch the Kidz with Lidz.

Since the accident the family have been promoting the importance of wearing cycling helmets.

This week Kasey's mother Stacey Alker and grandmother Jackie came to the school to give a presentation about the campaign.

They were joined by Demi Devoll, a close friend of Kasey’s who was with her at the time of the accident and contacted the emergency services.

She said: “I got the call from a stranger and they told me she has been in an accident.

“I was not expecting to see that.

“I expected a graze not a fractured skull.

“‘I spoke to the consultant and asked how many of these do you see?’ “‘He said ‘too many.’ “That is why we decided that something good should come out of this.

“‘I would say ‘get a helmet.

“We call them chancers and safers.

“If you have got a helmet on you are safe if you have not you are taking a chance.”

Headteacher James Royal said people in the area had rallied around the youngster.

He said: “Blackrod is a wonderful community.

“There were so many well wishes, a lot of people were concerned.

“We thought something dreadful might happen.

“We recognise just how lucky she was.

“We do not want this to happen to anyone else.

“We will do whatever it takes to make sure kids are wearing a helmet.”