A WARRINGTON dad is set to take part in the Birchwood 10k to help his four-year-old son’s dreams come true.
Ian Hill from Padgate, is competing in the event next month (August) to help raise funds for Children’s charity Dreams Come True to help purchase a special travel bed for his son Matthew, who has been diagnosed with rare chromosome disorder duplication 15q syndrome (IDIC15).
This will enable the whole family to visit Matthew’s grandparents who live in the Lake District, on weekends.
Like most other boys his age, 4 year-old Matthew is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. He loves to explore the outdoors, play with his two older sisters and spend time with his mum and dad.
There doesn’t seem to be anything that separates Matthew from other boys his age. However, Matthew was born with duplication 15 q syndrome, which causes severe global development delay and greatly affects Matthew’s perception of danger. Despite this diagnosis, the family remains optimistic and has teamed up with Dreams Come True to raise funds for a specialised travel bed for Matthew.
Matthew loves to see his relatives and spend time outdoors, but the family has had to stop these visits because the regular child’s travel cot they previously used is no longer suitable.
Matthew currently has the development of a 12-month old and almost no perception of danger. This means that it’s simply too risky to put him into a normal bed at night.
The whole family—including Matthew’s two older sisters—is in great need of a small break and would love to go to the Lake District this summer.
They can’t be sure what the future holds for Matthew, and any joyous moments they can currently spend in the company of family are precious. Matthew cannot do many of the things other boys his age take for granted, so the trips that he could take with a special travel bed would make a real difference in the lives of Matthew and his family members.
Dreams Come True is a national children’s charity serving the whole of the UK. Our mission is simply to make dreams come true for children with serious and life-limiting conditions.
Donations can be made at http://www.dreamscometrue.uk.com/284/matthews-appeal
