A trio of tradesmen from across the district braved The Beast from the East to renovate the home of a seriously ill two-year-old girl.
Darren Sudbury, of Essex Elite Paving, Braintree, Matthew Brister, of Dunmow, and Alex Rix, of Witham, were part of a 60-strong team of builders who spent eight days working round the clock to revamp the home of toddler Sadie Jenkins and her family.
Little Sadie spent the first ten months of her life in hospital, after being born with a range of complications including a whole in her heart, and since returning home has had to sleep in a makeshift bedroom in the family's front room.
After hearing the Jenkins' plight, Band of Builders, an organisation which helps tradespeople in need, decided to transform the home.
Sadie's dad Carl, 32, is a plasterer who has helped out at several previous projects with Band of Builders.
"I had no idea how much they were going to do, the whole house is amazing," he said.
"The extra storage means I’ve even got my dining room table back, which we haven’t had space for since Sadie was born, so we can finally sit down and eat dinner as a family. This really has changed everything.”
The project was made possible thanks to a competition run by firm Jewson, which allowed Band of Builders to secure £50,000 in funding.
Tradespeople travelled from across the country to the Jenkins' home in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, working day and night and even defrosting the ground with blowtorches in order to finish on schedule.
Sadie's mum Nicola, 33, said: "Seeing the house for the first time was absolutely overwhelming, it really will change our lives.
"I wanted to shake everyone’s hand and cuddle everyone but there were just so many people.
"The fact they have given up a week’s wages to come here, especially with this weather, means so much. Thank you is just nowhere near enough."
Visit www.bandofbuilders.com.
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