A FAMILY is backing an appeal launched by a Gwent charity’s which helps children suffering with disabilities and developmental difficulties has launched an appeal to raise more than over £7,000 for a special wheelchair.

Sparkle, which runs the Serennu Children’s Centre in Rogerstone, Newport, is raising funds for a TinyTRAX wheelchair – a fun and stylish battery-powered wheelchair that can be used by children aged two to nine years. The TinyTRAX wheelchair offers the facility of being able to introduce directional control and awareness and negotiating outdoor factors such as gradients, cambers and kerbs.

The fundraising appeal is being supported by Joan and Mark Knight, whose daughter Tia hasthe suffers from quadriplegic form of cerebral palsy sand the genetic condition neurofibromatosis (NF1) she would benefit from the wheelchair at the Serennu Centre.

Mrs Knight said: “We go quite regularly to the Serennu centre as she has different appointments to see consultants.

“When we heard about the wheelchair we thought it was a really good idea for the children, it will give them that extra help.”

The centre provides treatment and assessment facilities as well as information and leisure activities for children and young people with disabilities and developmental difficulties in Newport, South Monmouthshire and South Torfaen.

For more information on Sparkle and how to donate to the appeal, visit see www.sparkleappeal.org