Bright lights of Beechwood in aid of Dan
A YOUNG boy who is battling a ‘life limiting' condition was the guest of honour at a special Christmas lights switch on in Formby last week. James Comish has decorated his home on Beechwood Drive, Formby with fairy lights and Christmas decorations for the local community to enjoy, as well as helping raise money for a local charity. For the second year running James is hoping to raise funds for Formby youngster Daniel Van Der Velden who suffers from cerebral palsy.
Daniel has dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a devastating condition which leaves sufferers unable to talk or sit up and with hardly any movement in their arms and legs.
His parents Julie Kirby and Irwin Van Der Velden, of Formby, have found a new form of massage-based therapy called ABR which they believe will help the eleven-year-old maintain at least some control over his own movement as he grows up.
The treatment is only available in Belgium and therefore is not funded by the NHS.
It means the family face trips every three months across the Channel for Daniel’s therapy, at a cost of about £1,500 per visit.
Daniel travels to Belgium four times a year to receive the specialist treatment for his condition and any funds raised from the Christmas lights will be donated to Daniel's Therapy Fund. Julie Kirby, Daniel's mum said: “When James told me that they have decided to donate any funds raised from the Christmas Lights to Daniel's Therapy Fund for the second year, I was overwhelmed." ”The lights have always been designed to support various local charities, so for the family to decide to donate the money to Daniel for a second year is amazing.
Daniel was invited to James's family home on Thursday December 3rd to officially switch on the Christmas lights. “Daniel was over the moon to switch the lights on, he loved all the Christmas lights and decorations, he even used his iPad to switch them on himself. It was a lovely occasion and I can't thank James enough for all his generosity.“ Daniel was born with Dystonic Quadriplegic cerebral palsy which means he can't talk, sit up or use his arms and legs independently, but with a little help from his Therapy Fund, he can receive specialist treatment from the Belgium Advanced Bio-Mechanical Rehabilitation (ABR) centre. Money raised from Jame's Christmas lights will go towards Dan’s Therapy Fund, which will help fund trips, therapy equipment and research.
For more details on Daniel’s family’s fundraising efforts or to make a donation, go to www.doitfordan.org
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