THE family of a disabled youngster from Broadway are backing a campaign to provide specialist equipment to other children with similar conditions.

When Samuel Wheatley-Hunt was six weeks old an MRI scan revealed the left front lobe of his brain was underdeveloped, meaning today at four years old he still cannot speak, sit, crawl, roll or stand and has no functional use of his hands as they are clenched shut.

As Samuel’s family were unable to afford a specialist car seat they tuned to Newlife, a charity supporting disabled children, to help fund the £599 piece of equipment they needed.

Mum Natasha said it had been difficult to travel to and from Samuel’s many medical appointments and specialist nursery.

“Samuel struggles with head control and trunk support and standard car seats don’t recline,” she said.

“Because of his situation the only route we could go down was a specialist car seat and the one provided by Newlife is brilliant.

“Without that seat we wouldn’t be able to travel.”

She added the new seat, which the family paid £50 towards, means Samuel – who also has epilepsy – was much more comfortable and free from pain while travelling.

“If Samuel’s really grumpy all I have to do is put him in his car seat for him to cheer up so he must feel really happy and safe in there,” she said.

“Without the car seat it would be really difficult to do anything we had to travel to.

“We use it every day.”

Now the family are backing an appeal by Newlife to raise cash for other children in Worcestershire to have the same support they had.

The charity provides specialist equipment for disabled young people aged younger than 19 through grants and loans.

It has helped 134 children in Worcestershire by handing out more than £246,000 and has now launched a dedicated fund for the county.

For more information visit www.newlifecharity.co.uk/worcestershire.