A BRAVE five-year-old girl who has faced serious physical challenges since she was born needs the community’s help to make her life easier.

Rayleigh Primary School pupil Elsie Harvey-Tait was born with a club foot, but after going through a year of intensive treatment, doctors realised her issues stemmed from a blockage in her brain.

Elsie now has to receive physiotherapy treatment every day, and her family are raising cash to purchase a special “garden room” where she can have her own space to play and receive rehabilitation.

Mum Klaire Harvey, 41, said: “The idea is like a fancy shed basically. It will be somewhere to do her physio with everything set out right for her.

“It will make a huge difference as it will be somewhere that she can paint pink and it would be hers.”

It first became clear that Elsie’s problems were more serious than first feared after a referral to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital when she was around a year old.

Mrs Harvey, of Weir Road, Rayleigh, said: “They had to put her back into casts and she had to have her tendon cut for the second time.

“She had MRI scans on her brain and her spine and she had to go to Great Ormond Street to have some tests on her nerves.

“Then it was found out there is a blockage in her brain stopping her legs getting messages, particularly in her left one.”

Despite her health problems, Elsie is a happy little girl and is close to her siblings – Freddie, eight, Brooke, ten, Owen, 18, and Tyla, 20.

“You would not believe that she is going through all of this because she is such a trooper,” Mrs Harvey said.

“She just gets on with it and she is used to it despite the fact she has to wear a splint on her leg. We are so very proud of her.”

Mrs Harvey and Elsie’s dad Olly, 33, have organised a fundraising party at The Mill Arts and Events Centre, Rayleigh, on July 27, hoping to raise £4,000 towards for the garden room.

She said: “I am really hoping that the community can help support the event and get involved.

“Every minute which we can add on to her physiotherapy makes a huge difference.”

To help, visit http://bit.ly/2pf4w14