After a successful SDR operation and years of private physiotherapy, Ben is walking, running, jumping, and living his best life—thanks to everyone who has supported us on this journey and contributed to Ben’s collection.

Ben attends mainstream school and is academically thriving. He can write, play football and netball, run around in the playground with his friends, collect and cut up his own food in the lunch hall, and even occasionally climb the trim trail.

Ben also swims independently twice a week, using both arms to front crawl. Swimming helps strengthen his arm and leg muscles, especially on his weaker left side.

He can walk to trot on a horse and sit upright without falling off, which is a significant achievement and critical for his core strength and development. Ben rides with the RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) once a week, and he loves it, even though he’s completely exhausted by the end of the lesson. The RDA volunteers and stable owners are incredible people, and their generosity, hard work, and kindness make the horse-riding lessons an unforgettable and enjoyable experience, accessible to all budgets.

All of the things Ben can do now would not have been possible without the early intervention and continuous physiotherapy sessions he attends.

Unfortunately, we are now running low on funds, as essential private physiotherapy comes at a cost ranging from £75 to £105 per hour. Ben needs your help to keep him mobile.

During his physiotherapy sessions, Ben works one-to-one with a physiotherapist who specialises in cerebral palsy in children. He uses specialist equipment designed for children of his age and condition, including the most up-to-date and effective machinery like the Innowalk, treadmills, and vibration plates—equipment that local NHS hospitals and families simply cannot afford. The Innowalk machine, which Ben has only used a handful of times but has shown immediate improvement in his walk, gait, and posture, costs £25,000 per machine. Even the treadmills Ben uses weekly would cost thousands of pounds each.

The East Herts NHS offers limited physiotherapy for children like Ben and only intervenes when mobility worsens to the point of requiring a wheelchair or further surgeries. We are doing everything in our power to prevent this from happening because we do not want Ben to endure unnecessary pain or suffering. We just want him to continue living a happy, mobile, and independent life.

As a family of five, we work hard, but the cost of everyday living—childcare, mortgage, council tax, heating, food—and additional expenses such as mobility equipment, swimming, horse riding, and travel (to places like Muswell Hill, London, Furneux Pelham, and Bishops Stortford) leave us unable to afford Ben’s essential physiotherapy. We have heavily relied on the funds donated by friends and family to the Tree of Hope account, and we need your help once again.

We’re asking if you can help us to help Ben stay mobile by making a contribution.

When Ben walks, he gives hope and inspiration to other children and families with similar conditions. We are committed to doing everything we can to keep Ben walking, running, and living his best life.

We’re #DoingItForBen.

Please help us to support our little boy as he continues his journey.

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds, or surplus funds, then the funds will be used, if appropriate, to fund support for our child’s needs in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objects. If in those circumstances we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objectives, then any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to be used for the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.