** We are so grateful to everyone for your incredible generosity and we are delighted that Henry can now get his all-terrain wheelchair and other specialist equipment that will make such a difference to his life. THANK YOU!!**

We are raising £9,000 for a specialist all-terrain wheelchair for young Henry to enable him to fully access the great outdoors, be it at school, at home or on away day adventures.

Henry's story is one of incredible courage and determination in the face of adversity. One brave boy, supported by a determined and loving family. Henry's mum explains...

It’s coming up to 2 years on 1st May that our little Henry, then 5 was taken severely ill.

Henry had had a bit of a cold for a week but nothing significant. Suddenly he went very downhill with severe pain and within 24 hours was paralysed from the neck down. Southampton hospital sent their paediatric intensive care unit to Dorchester and he was put in an induced coma for the pain and whisked away from us.

The next time we saw our little boy he was in intensive care in Southampton having had extensive tests, we were told Henry had Transverse Myelitis and they were doing everything to save his life. Very little is known about this medically, it is the body’s autoimmune response to a virus causing the spinal cord to swell extensively which in turn crushes the surrounding nerves . It affects only about 3-4 people per million every year. Henry’s lungs had collapsed and he was unable to move. Machines were breathing for him and he remained in a coma for over a month whilst doctors pumped him full of steroids to combat the swelling.

We spent over 6 months in hospital two of which we lived in Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Over the last 2 years Henry has fought an amazing battle. He still has no movement from his tummy downwards which obviously has further implications not just not being able to walk. He is the most resilient, strong and incredibly brave person I know. He has overcome so much in his life and still has the ability to make everyone laugh. We are truly in awe of him! He has a great team around him and with the help of the truly amazing and dedicated staff at Leweston who have fought for him tirelessly and supported his sister Florence, Henry is now back at school full time. The access to an all terrain wheelchair would really be the icing on the cake of him being able to do pretty much everything, which is his mantra.. he just does things slightly differently now. Thank you so much for all your support, it is truly appreciated.