Appeal lands £11,000 injection for brave Leon, 3
A brave youngster, who was born 10-and-a-half weeks early with two holes in his heart, has received an £11,000 boost in his bid to take his first steps.
Leon Thompson, aged three, also had a brain haemorrhage and lung disease when born in 2013, and has cerebral palsy. After battling back against the odds, his family are trying to help raise £60,000 for a crucial operation to help him walk.
Kind hearted friends and family have already chipped in with donations and carried out a host of activities to bolster the cash pot and set Leon on his way.
His mother Kasia, who lives in Codsall, said: "We're at 15 per cent now. We've received £9,322 on Leon's JustGiving page and have had a £3,000 pledge from the Friends of Alfie Johnson Trust.
"We're completely overwhelmed with how generous people have been, we've only really had two events. Most of it has come from just talking to people about it and from people seeing it in the paper."
Born in January 2013, he was looked after at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton for more than two months, and during his first year doctors were concerned about his development, which they put down to his early birth. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and global developmental delay at 15 months due to a white matter brain injury called Periventricular Leukomalacia, common in premature births. In order for Leon to walk independently he needs daily, intensive physiotherapy which he receives at nursery and at home.
He also needs equipment to help support him as he struggles to sit independently and he is not yet able to use a walker unaided.
Kasia added: "We are raising money for equipment and physiotherapy following a surgery called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). Costs are expected to total £60,000."
His father Charlie, as well as family and friends, are set to launch a fundraising campaign, starting with a 10-strong group taking on the Three Peaks Challenge in August. The group will aim to tackle Ben Nevis in Fort William, Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District in Cumbria and Snowdon in North Wales in under 24 hours.
And today they are holding a day of baby sensory parties in Codsall to raise money for Leon.
They are being held at Trinity Methodist Church Hall, Histon's Hill Codsall. Ellen's Fingerpaint Jewellery, Usbourne Books, Hive Arts and Crafts and Lisa Grace Photography will all be in attendance.
Tickets cost £10. To donate to Leon's cause, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leonsfirststeps
