A TEENAGER from Cwmbran who suffers from a debilitating genetic condition has been given a state-of-the-art wheelchair thanks to fundraising by a Welsh spring water company

Tia Leigh has suffered with neurofibromatosis since she was just 15 months old and has struggled with partial blindness, mass tumour growth and frequent trips to hospital.

The 13-year-old’s family have been fundraising for her for many years, but ramped up their efforts after hearing she was set to lose her right leg as a result of the condition.

As part of their campaign they contacted Pembrokeshire based bottled water firm Princes Gate Spring Water to ask for a donation. But the firm decided to go much further and gave Tia a state-of-the-art new wheelchair, five times more powerful than the ones provided on the NHS.

The generous donation was made as part of a campaign by the Princes Gate Trust – a charitable fund set up by the firm – to raise £100,000 to be used to enrich the lives of disadvantaged children and young people, which was launched to mark its 25th anniversary.

Managing director David Jones said: “We wanted to up-the-ante in terms of our fundraising efforts for the trust.

“We have been truly inspired by both the young people we have helped and the supporters who we have helped us in our efforts.”

For more information visit www.princesgatetrust.com or email info@princesgatetrust.com.