Colwyn Bay dad set to travel UK for cerebral palsy son

Apr 21 2011 by Rayyan Parry, North Wales Weekly News

A DAD will drive thousands of miles across the UK to help raise £50,000 for a life-changing operation for his son.

Andrew Telford from the Glyn Estate in Colwyn Bay says his five-year-old son AJ Tighe suffers with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, a neurological condition which means he could be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

It was problems crawling and balancing as a child that led his parents to discover AJ suffered with the condition.

Since then AJ, who now lives in Manchester, has undergone a lifetime of physiotherapy and operations.

Andrew, 40, said: “It was hard when we found out he had cerebral palsy. It’s one of those things we didn’t know a lot about.

“He had problems crawling and balancing when he was two. He’s paralysed from the waste down, but he’s not bothered at all. He’s all smiles.”

Now the family has been given hope after learning about an operation in the USA which could help the youngster out of his wheelchair.

SDR treatment, which rearranges nerves in the brain, could mean AJ will be able to use his legs again.

Andrew will drive thousands of miles across the UK with his son to help raise the money. The journey will see him travel through 14 cities, including Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and he will finish at 10 Downing Street in London. Andrew has already written a letter to David Cameron asking for his support.

But the journey rests on whether A J will be accepted for the operation in the USA.

“We are at the very start of this long journey and we don’t know if he will be lucky enough to be accepted onto the programme to have SDR treatment which will enable him to leave the wheelchair and walk,” he said.

“We are confident we can raise the money. At the end of the day there is nothing to lose. Even if we can help one child with cerebral palsy, it can only be good.

“If anyone can help with ideas or places I can contact to raise money we would really appreciate it.”

A Facebook page dedicated to the plight of the youngster called “AJs operation” has been set up. A petition has been set up to collect signatures.

Cerebral palsy affects one in 400 children in the UK. Help fundraise at www.support4sdr.org/Petition.html