TOWIE’s Kelsey Stratford left furious after her disabled sister, 12, is kicked out of children’s disco because she can’t sit up

Former TOWIE star Kelsey Stratford has hit out at Popworld in Southend after her disabled sister, Kennedy, 12, was refused entry to a disco because she can’t sit or stand up.  

Kennedy was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 at just a few weeks old and is paralysed from the neck down, and is unable to speak or swallow properly. 

Kelsey, 24, has slammed the venue for turning away Kennedy after being let into the Little Ravers event. 

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The reality star said her sister, who was thoroughly enjoying the disco, has been ‘hurt’ by the whole experience and could overhear staff telling her carers she had to leave. 

‘My sister battles every single day with a cruel illness that has taken her ability to move but not her beautiful mind,’ the former reality star told The Sun. 

‘She was so excited to finally feel included at a kids rave, only to be unfairly thrown out because she couldn’t sit up, she faces unimaginable struggles every day, yet this was a moment she truly looked forward to, something that could have brought her joy.

Former TOWIE star Kelsey Stratford has hit out at Popworld in Southend after her disabled sister, Kennedy, 12, was refused entry to a school disco because she can’t sit or stand up

Kelsey has slammed the venue for turning away Kennedy at their Little Ravers event. The reality star said her sister has been ‘hurt’ by the whole experience

A spokesperson for Popworld told MailOnline: ‘We’re very sorry for the distress this situation has caused Kennedy and her family’ [Popworld in Southend pictured]

‘Now, she feels even more left out and hurt in a life that has already given her so much pain. How is that fair?’ 

Kelsey’s stepfather Paul also hit out at Popworld on social media. He wrote: ‘So yesterday my beautiful princess Kennedy had a ticket to Little Ravers xmas party @ Popworld Southend.

‘Kennedy had been looking forward to this for a year as she loves both a rave and party.

‘They let Kennedy in and all was OK, only for them to come up to us stating unless Kennedy can sit up she will have to leave, had to take a breath before realising they were throwing out a little girl, who was already dancing and singing, out because she couldn’t sit or stand!

‘To make it worse, the Deputy Manager, said she can’t do anything about it, Kennedy can’t be in there due to the risk.

‘Remember Kennedy is hearing all this, cognitively she is not disabled, as they demand she leaves like she is a threat to the public and other children! Disgusting behaviour from the individuals involved!!’

A spokesperson for Popworld told MailOnline: ‘We’re very sorry for the distress this situation has caused Kennedy and her family.

‘We strive to be inclusive and events like Little Ravers are designed for all families to enjoy, so parents and carers can come with their children to have fun in an exciting new environment.

‘We take accessibility very seriously and guest safety is our absolute priority.

‘However, it’s clear on this occasion we got this wrong and we are thoroughly reviewing our risk assessment measures, and team training, to make sure this doesn’t happen again. We are in contact with Kennedy’s parents and hope we can welcome her and her family back again soon.’

Kelsey made the choice to quit showbusiness altogether after being axed from TOWIE in 2021 and has trained as a carer in a bid to help others. 

Kelsey made the choice to quit showbusiness altogether after being axed from TOWIE in 2021 and has trained as a carer in a bid to help others

About 1.6million people in the UK carry the gene that causes spinal muscular atrophy and one in every 10,000 babies is born with the condition.

A baby born with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 is expected to die before their second birthday.

Those who develop other types of the condition later in life often go on to have a normal life expectancy.

Kennedy is routinely seen by the team at Great Ormond Street Children’s hospital but is treated elsewhere in emergencies.

Every winter she ends up in intensive care, with Kelsey describing Kennedy’s immune system as ‘awful’.

She was on life support after contracting Covid-19, with Kelsey saying at the time: ‘The NHS have been incredible to my family and kept Kennedy alive.’

Kelsey was 12 years old when her mother gave birth to Kennedy and her twin brother Karter.

It was soon realised both babies were not progressing normally which led to them both receiving a spinal muscular atrophy diagnosis.

After four months, Karter died from the condition, with Kelsey’s mother having to break the news to the older siblings.

Kennedy can only communicate by grunting, laughing or crying and only her close family or carers are able to understand what she means.