A PETERSFIELD family is hoping to raise enough money so their disabled young son can enjoy a pleasure most youngsters take for granted.
Thomas Cantan, who is eight, has brain damage including cerebral palsy affecting all his limbs, epilepsy, learning difficulties, he can’t speak, and has severe co-ordination problems, and random and uncontrolled movements.
These mean he won’t ever be able to get on, let alone ride, a normal bike.
Now his mum Gemma, father Nick and sister Alana (11) are hoping to raise £1,844 to buy Thomas a trike bike that he can ride in safety.
The family live in Rival Moor Road, and mum Gemma says Thomas, who gets about in a special wheelchair, often becomes upset seeing other youngsters out riding their bikes.
Gemma said: "Riding a bike is something almost every child can do and enjoy, and Thomas is desperate to do it – riding a bike would be such a wonderful thing for him to do.
"If he had a bike he could ride safely it would make such a huge difference to his quality of life, and as a family we would be able to go out – and he and his sister could ride their bikes."
Thomas has already test driven a Tomcat Trike Bike and loved it, says Gemma.
Tomcat trikes are designed so riders are securely and safely strapped in, including their feet, and the family are hoping they raise enough to buy Thomas one.
Gemma said: "We have opened a fundraising web page, and we will be doing a sponsored walk to try an raise some of the cost."
To donate, and learn more about Thomas, visit the web page at www.gofundme.com/funding-thomas039-special-needs-trike