The beaming smile and spirit of a 10-year-old Four Crosses boy who cannot walk, talk or sit up has prompted staff at caravan dealership Salop Leisure to support a fundraising mission to buy him a special walking device.
Complications at birth left Daniel Edwards with cerebral palsy and severely disabled but a recent move to Treloar School, Alton, Hampshire has seen him make remarkable progress, said his father, Stuart Edwards, motorhome sales specialist at Salop Leisure.
The specialist residential school provides education, care, therapy, medical support and independence training to young people with physical disabilities from all over the UK and overseas.
“Treloar School does fantastic work and since Daniel went there about a year ago, he has learned to communicate by eye pointing, using his head and switching to access voice output computer,” said Stuart. “He is one of the happiest children you could ever wish to meet, always smiling.
“He is now growing out of his walking frame and needs a new Mulholland walker, which helps him to move around and gives him a tiny bit of independence.
“I just happened to bring Daniel’s school report in to work to show receptionist Jean Courtney and it has been passed around the staff. Their response has been fantastic, completely overwhelming.”
Stuart’s workmate Brook Morgan, who works in holiday home after sales and is a swimming instructor, is planning a 6,000-metre sponsored swim in two hours today (Monday) to raise money for the £1,500 walker and everyone in the company is right behind her.
Mrs Courtney, who has known Daniel since he was a baby, said: “He’s such a lovely little boy, always smiling and happy when you talk to him. All the staff who read his school report were touched by it and wanted to do something to raise money for Daniel’s walker.”