AN 11-year-old boy from Winsford is appealing to ‘local heroes’ to help him raise much-needed funds after a playground accident left him unable to walk.

For Charlie Welsh, the last three years have been a testament to his courage in the face of adversity.

Illness and an accident saw his life change out of all recognition as he became reliant on a wheelchair to get around and developed OCD and Tourette’s Syndrome.

Charlie’s mum, Angela, said: “In 2014, when Charlie was eight he was diagnosed with scarlet fever and then Kawasaki disease, which causes fever and a rash, all within a few weeks.

“This triggered a condition called PANDAS which causes the sudden onset of OCD and Tourette’s Syndrome and forces his own antibodies to attack his immune system.

“A few weeks later, during a playground game, he fell forward and head-butted play equipment, leaving him with an acquired brain injury. Charlie hasn’t walked since then.

“He uses a wheelchair to go outside and at home he crawls. It’s hard, it feels like I have lost the child I once had. He has a great personality and he deals with it all well, even with everything that has happened he is still happy-go-lucky; but we don’t know what the future holds.”

A standing frame could help give him back some of the freedom and independence he has lost.

Due to the £2,781 cost of the equipment, Angela contacted Newlife Charity for Disabled Children for help.

Newlife is the UK’s leading charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness.

The charity is now calling on local heroes to come forward to help fund the equipment which would help Charlie mobilise without help, change his position to stop him being uncomfortable and once more let him look others in the eye when he speaks to them.

If you would like to support Charlie in getting his equipment, go to newlifecharity.co.uk/cheshire and click on the Donate button next to his story.

Any funds raised above the amount needed for Charlie’s standing frame will be used to help other children in Cheshire as he is currently one of 22 children with equipment needs of £46,900 in the county.