With £6 million to raise to fund a dedicated centre for disabled children at High Cross, Newport, Tina White is a busy woman who has taken on the biggest challenge of her working career. But she is loving every minute of it, as she told HELEN ROBERTS

A MEETING with a special little girl changed Tina White's life forever. It was 1997, and Tina was just becoming involved with the budding project to build a specialist centre for disabled children in south Gwent - something the Argus is backing with our Sparkle campaign to raise £250,000 towards it.

It was then that Tina met two-year-old Sophie Hennah, who suffers from severe cerebral palsy, is quadriplegic and needs 24-hour care, and her parents.

They were an inspiration.

Tina, 42, from Cwmbran, says: "I had worked in management roles in the health service and I became involved in the children's centre project in 1997 when I was then fundraising manager for the Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust. I was brought in to give some advice on the project.

"It was then that I met some of the parents and children and I met Sophie Hennah and her parents.

"Meeting that family really was part of my interest and where it all began. I realised how desperately needed this children's centre was.

"Up until then I believed that children like Sophie and her family got all the support and help they needed and it was right there on their doorstep, or everything was just a phone call away. But meeting the Hennahs I realised that it just wasn't like that and every single thing they needed they had to fight for.

"I realised there must be others out there like that - I thought it was all there and it wasn't."

Up until then Tina, who worked in the health service for 23 years, had no experience of disability in children in her family.

She says she had being living in a bit of a bubble and then realised there was a job to be done.

She says: "My work at that time was finding a site and then work with the landowner to get the land that we now have.

"It wasn't easy. We had to look at 13 sites because we knew we had to get the right site to work for the project and at that time I was working for the trust, so I wasn't working full-time for the children's centre.

"But the first time I met Sophie, it changed. I think you have a choice when you are faced with something you have never seen before - you can either go two ways.

"It was such a revelation for me the fact that I thought I could do something for Sophie.

"I met other children and their families and I wanted to know more about it and I got to know the parents and work with them.

"I realised there were some huge difficulties that I've never faced, but I always say that meeting Sophie got me involved."

Tina says she never felt the project wouldn't succeed and she never doubted her own involvement in the project.

She says: "It deserves the commitment, it will succeed and it will happen or I wouldn't have taken the job.

"It is not fair to raise expectations if we didn't think it was going to happen. "I feel privileged to be part of something like this. How often do we get the chance to do something like this to make such a big difference to so many people?

"I am passionate about it, it is a big commitment and a big project, it is not a regular job.

"I can do a whole range of things in one day. I can be at a board meeting in the morning and then crawl on the floor with a group of children telling me what they want at the new children's centre in the afternoon, or justifying the children's centre to a grant-making trust.

"It is interesting and the biggest challenge I have faced in my working career, but I have never felt so committed or determined in anything I've ever done.

"My family support me 110% in what I do and I think they are really proud of me. My nephew Gavin has got involved in volunteering and my niece has spent time with the children and they have got to see a different side to life as well."

Tina says that if there were any low moments along the way she just thought of the children and helping them.

She says: "They are the most amazing, fascinating children. I have never been with any of them that I haven't taken something away.

"I feel humbled, if I had challenge to face like that what would I do, the children never cease to amaze me.

"All you have to do at a low time is speak or meet with some of the children and wonder what you were moaning about."

Tina says she was still surprised at the range of support that had flooded in for the children's centre.

She says: "When you tell people what it's for, I have never had anybody turn their back. So many children are going to benefit.

"The number of friends, colleagues and support from so many people is overwhelming."

For Tina, the role of project development manager for the children's centre came at the right time in terms of experience and also maturity and the ability to handle the more emotional side of the job.

Many of the children are severely disabled and their families go through a rollercoaster of emotions.

So it is natural that Tina, who wants to help them so much, goes through many highs and lows.

Tina says: "It is so emotional but you can't detach yourself and you shouldn't turn it around. Every time something breaks your heart, you say, well if I do this it is going to help."

Tina is full of optimism for the future of the centre and excitement for the challenges that are to come.

She says: "I am excited about the next 12 months and what is set to happen. I think it is what we have been waiting for.

"I am optimistic and passionate and dedicated about this. It is my job but I can't imagine doing any other."

* If you would like to help Sparkle, call Helen Roberts on 01633 777231.