Alan Thompson A GORLESTON couple are planning a host of fundraising events to raise funds to help care for their three-year-old son stricken with cerebral palsy.Aidan Forster has not had the best start in life.

Alan Thompson

A GORLESTON couple are planning a host of fundraising events to raise funds to help care for their three-year-old son stricken with cerebral palsy.

Aidan Forster has not had the best start in life. At the age of four months, he was diagnosed with West Syndrome, a rare condition that can halt development. Then eight months later, he was found to have cerebral palsy.

Now, as he is growing, parents Deborah and Wayne Forster, of Middleton Road, say they are determined to get him the best possible equipment, including a specially-adapted wheelchair.

West Syndrome, otherwise known as infantile spasms, is a rare and serious form of epilepsy. It is age-related, generally occurring at around the fifth month.

Deborah, 28, said: “We found at four months he was not responding to anything, so we had him examined at the James Paget University Hospital.

“After treatment, he did start to develop again, but then later he had to have a brain scan and this time it was found he was suffering from cerebral palsy.”

Deborah said: “We will need around £15,000 for him and we will be organising various fundraising functions. We are hoping to get a prize bingo night and then with summer coming on, hold other events like dances and charity walks.”

Aidan no longer suffers from West Syndrome but he still frequently visits the JPUH.

His mum said: “I can't speak too highly of the staff at the hospital as they have been wonderful with Aidan. They have supplied

us with a feeding chair and a harness for the car, but we will need extra equipment

that the hospital just doesn't have the budget for.”

Aidan has two sisters, six-year-old Ebony and Erin who is nine months old, and both are fit and healthy.

For more information or to help raise

funds for Aidan with Deborah and Wayne, call 07810 444711.