This is Oliver.

Oliver is happy, kind, clever, funny and hands down the best 8 year old kid I know.

In October 2020, when he was 7 years old, we received the devastating news that Oliver has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy . A genetic condition that causes his muscles to waste away. There are no treatments and there is no cure that can stop the condition from wreaking havoc in his little body.

Hearing about the ways that DMD will effect him is devastation beyond belief. When I look at him, and he smiles back at me, it’s hard to believe that it’s true. In fact, it is near impossible.

But it is true.

A year ago, Oliver needing a wheelchair seemed like such a long way off and yet here we are…on the cusp of ordering an incredible Trekinetic, all terrain wheelchair that will give our gorgeous boy a level of freedom that he has never before known. And that’s all thanks to the incredible generosity and love shown by every single person that has donated to our Just Giving page so far. Thank Y O U.

At 8 years old, his body is already showing signs of what is to come. Things that the able bodied amongst us do without a second thought such as climbing the stairs, getting in the bath, getting in the shower and getting dressed have all become harder for him to manage independently - and just as he is reaching an age where being independent feels important too.

To give Oliver the independence that he craves so desperately, for as long as possible, we know that we need to start to adapt our home. Our first task is to create a downstairs wet room so that he doesn’t have to navigate the stairs as often or be lifted in and out of the bath by us. I know it sounds dramatic, but with your help, we can make a huge, huge difference to his quality of life.

I can’t make this go away for him. I wish with all my being that I could. I can’t change his fate and I can’t promise him that the future will be all that he dreams it will be. But what I can do is offer him (and us) hope. I can empower him with self belief and the tools to remain independent and grow in self confidence. Being disabled should not hold him back.

Please help us to make our little boy's dreams of independent living a reality.

Much love,

Louise, Andy, Oliver and Edie X

Ps... you can see Oliver trying out the Trekinetic HERE