Meet our beautiful little boy, Teddy. He is 3 years old, and all he wants to do is explore the world around him like other children his age.

Teddy has severe hypotonia (low muscle tone) and hypermobile joints, particularly in his hips, knees and ankles. He has very little strength in his legs and is unable to stand independently or walk at all.

Teddy has needed support with his development from a young age. He has worked with NHS physiotherapists since he was just one, as well as having private physiotherapy since he was one and a half. Despite all of his hard work, we still don’t know whether Teddy will ever be able to walk independently.

But recently, we were given a reason to hope.

Teddy had the opportunity to trial a Trexo robotic walking device, which supports children with significant mobility difficulties to practise stepping in a safe and supported way. Seeing Teddy take assisted steps was incredibly emotional for us. He did amazingly well, and for the first time, we could see just how much he wanted to move his legs and take steps.

The Trexo will give him the opportunity to practise supported steps and work on his strength and movement whilst building up his muscles.

Our biggest wish is simply to give Teddy the opportunity to take those next steps.

He is such a happy, determined little boy, and we don’t want to look back one day and wonder whether we could have done more to give him the chance to walk.

Please help us give Teddy the chance to take his next steps. Every donation, share and bit of support means so much to our family.

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.