Max was born at 34.6 weeks. His birth was difficult and painful. When he was born the cord was wrapped around his neck five times and resulted in cardiac arrest. he needed to be resuscitated by the neonatal team and on the last attempt thankfully came around. At the time it wasn't communicated to us that Max would have any additional needs but as time passed, it became obvious there were difficulties. At age 2.5 years, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and by 5 he was using an electric wheelchair. Max will never walk, his speech is delayed and he struggles with every muscle in his body as well as suffering from severe fatigue which stops us as a family enjoying activities 7 days a week, we have to sacrifice weekends for weekdays and like wise if we do fun things at the weekend to cater for our other children, Max often misses school. Max benefits from physiotherapy weekly and has done since 6 months old.

Max attends a mainstream primary school accessing a resourced provision which gives him access to the national curriculum with one to one support, there are only 2 spaces per year group and they have to prove they are cognitively able. We were turned down 3 times for no speech but fought and proved he deserved a place.

Max currently has half a kidney due to kidney disease and suffers from dislocating hips. His immune system is extremely low and last year he was admitted to hospital for viral meningitis. This year he has suffered with Strain A flu. Despite all of this, he is a charismatic, happy, loving little boy with an amazing sense of humor. He enjoys gaming and hopes to one day be a computer coder. There is just one problem.....

Max suffers from excruciating pain in his hips, groin and legs, his pain is crippling and made worse by been in his wheelchair all day with little let up. We have been advised a spa & light therapy system will provide a calming, therapeutic therapy for Max and more importantly his legs by providing a 'hydro' type therapy.

As a family we are heavily involved in giving back to the community by fund-raising for other charities and giving up many hours for the football community. We are hoping on this occasion our friends and family will support us in trying to fund the £3000 needed to install the therapy system for Maximus, the gladiator, the fighter, the boy who take it all in his stride and still smiles and keeps on giving.