All this five-year-old boy wants is to ride a bike - and here is how you can make his wish come true.
Kyle Dixon, who has cerebral palsy, struggles with his mobility and would need a special trike to be able to ride like other children. The youngster has already tested a suitable trike and he loved it.
However, it will cost £1,159 - and members of the public are being urged to back our Urgent Equipment Appeal to help get Kyle the trike he so desperately wants. The Chronicle's Sunshine Fund provides life-changing equipment for children with disabilities across the North East but demand has increased substantially.
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Kyle's mum Claire says the trike would make "a massive difference" to his life. It is a three-wheeler and has a bar on its back, which would allow his parents to push him along when needed, making it easier for him to go out on walks with his family, including dad Marc, 39, and three-year-old sister Ava.
Claire, 37, an accounts clerk, of Whickham, Gateshead, said: "Every Christmas or birthday, he will ask for a bike. He's absolutely desperate to ride a bike.
"When he tried out the specialist trike, he was beaming from ear to ear. He never stopped talking about it for days. It was very emotional, he absolutely loved it.
"On the physical side, the trike would give him exercise and will help with physio for his legs. But the boost to his self-confidence will be massive.
"Being a five-year-old boy, he's absolutely desperate to do things that five-year-olds do. He wants to ride a bike and he wants to talk about it with his friends."
Bev Wright, The Sunshine Fund's family coordinator, said the number of applications for specialist equipment for children had increased.
She added: "Equipment that families could previously access through the NHS or social services is now no longer available to them and families are being asked to make these purchases themselves or turn to charities like ours. Items like specialist beds and adapted baths can run into the thousands and desperate parents are turning to us for help fund these expensive, but fundamental items.
"We are proud that the services we provide alleviate strain on our already overwhelmed NHS and to work closely with a group of medical and social professionals who support our application process each quarter and help us ensure we provide the right equipment for the individual child based on prognosis, how the child will grow and what value to family life that equipment will provide.
"We do not receive any statutory funding and so our team work tirelessly to raise every single penny to fund the equipment for our children and families. We know it's a hard time for many, but please if you're able, make a donation to support our Urgent Equipment Appeal today."
To help, you can make a donation online here. The website also has information about other ways to donate.
