A FATHER-OF-TWO from Newport, whose teenage son has a life-limiting condition, has praised his employer for giving an early Christmas gift to the children’s hospice that helps his family.

Sixteen-year-old Lewis Reiffer is a regular at Ty Hafan, in Sully, having been diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy when just a few months old.

His dad, Ian, is operations assurance manager at Arriva Trains Wales, and as part of an ongoing partnership, the company sponsored Ty Hafan’s Carols at the Castle event at Cardiff Castle.

“Lewis has Lennox Gastaut Syndrome. He was developing well as a baby, then when he was 4 months old he started having small seizures,” said Mr Reiffer.

“After lots of tests the consultant told us the spasms were very serious and Lewis had a severe form of epilepsy.

“Now Lewis is 16, but mentally he’s probably one or two years old. He can’t communicate but he’s a lovely kid, very happy.

“We tend to have a long weekend break at T? Hafan. It’s great, Lewis lights up every time he goes there.”

In recent years, Mr Reiffer and work colleagues have organised a Holyhead-Cardiff cycle ride for Ty Hafan, raising £2,500 this year.

Of his employer’s backing for the hospice, Mr Reiffer said: “It’s fantastic. It started with the bike rides and we’ve been building the relationship with T? Hafan since then. It’s an important part of the community, and community work is really important to us at Arriva.

“The support I get from my employer is unreal. It’s a lifeline really. I couldn’t wish for a better company. If the school phones me to say Lewis isn’t well, I can just go – no questions asked. They understand.”