Our son Thomas is a bright, cheeky 13-year-old from Bromley Cross, Bolton who loves getting out and about.

Like most teenagers, he wants independence — the freedom to go places, make choices, and experience the world.

Thomas lives with Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus, Epilepsy, Cortical Visual Impairment and complex sensory needs. He is a wheelchair user and will never walk.

As he grows older, getting him safely in and out of the family car is becoming increasingly difficult for us and so we are trying to raise £4,600 to purchase an E-Motion X seat and a V40X two-way hoist.

This vital equipment will:

Allow Thomas to transfer safely into the car

Enable him to help control his own transfer, building confidence and self-esteem

Reduce the physical strain on us, his parents and carers

Make it possible for Thomas to enjoy more days out, activities and opportunities

Something as simple as getting into a car can make a powerful difference. For Thomas, it means freedom, dignity and a way of being a teenager like any other.

With your help we can give Thomas the dignity and freedom he deserves.

* Update - thank to some ninjas (ssshhh!) we have been able to upgrade Thomas's seat to a Recaro Specialist L seat which will better support his posture the total cost of this is £5,601 *

** Further Update - thank you to everyone who has continued to donate. We have obviously smashed our target but I am unable to close this page until the end of February so any extra money raised will go towards the £1,749 deposit on Toms new motability vehicle **