Two adorable brothers have been extremely busy during lockdown racing around their garden to raise money for kids with spinal injuries.
Little Alfie, who lives in South Gloucestershire, has travelled 30km in his wheelchair while his younger brother Freddie, aged two, ran the distance.
All the money from their feat is being donated towards Neurokinex, a specialist spinal cord rehabilitation facility, in Almondsbury, which has been a lifeline for Alife.
When the youngster was one-month-old his mother noticed his legs were stiff.
He was rushed to hospital for an emergency operation but was left paralysed from the waist down. Doctors told his mum he might not be able to even support himself in his wheelchair following the surgery.
But the determined four-year-old is now walking with a frame and can travel in his wheelchair by himself, thanks to the charity's support.
"I was pretty devastated when I found out it was tumour," said mum Esther. "He had absolutely no movement after the operation and no one knew what was going to happen for sure.
"Then I saw a flick of his toe on one side. It was incredible seeing it."
Alfie started at Neurokinex in August 2017 as part of its Newly Injured Scheme which awards six free sessions to patients.
“When Alfie started at Neurokinex he was just getting up on his feet with support,” said Esther. “Two and a half years on and it’s a vital part of his rehabilitation: I honestly don’t know where we would be if we hadn’t found Neurokinex.
"It’s made such a huge difference, particularly as Alfie was so young when his injury occurred.
"Prior to Neurokinex, Alfie was having hospital admissions for rehabilitation twice a year, but progress between admissions was much slower.
The scheme, which costs £420 per person, is under threat as loss of income during the Covid-19 pandemic means the charity can’t afford to fund the programme after lockdown.
Charity bosses have now launched its Step Up Appeal to raise £25,000 to fund the vital work.
All money Alfie raises will go towards the appeal. He set out to raise enough to provide six sessions for another child in a similar situation. So far, he has raised enough for four others and he’s still going.
