Brave boy's charity walk wins an award

William, who suffers from the extremely rare genetic disorder Neuhauser Syndrome, struggled to hold his head up due to the effects of the condition, which is described as having a similar effect to cerebral palsy.

He also has a limited vocabulary and only says about five words on a regular basis.

But after completing Targeted Training therapy at the Movement Centre, a charity based at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen, near Oswestry, William has come on leaps and bounds.

The youngster, from Machynlleth in Mid Wales, completed a sponsored one-mile walk along the seafront promenade in Aberystwyth in October last year which raised almost £1,000 for the Movement Centre. And his proud parents Danielle, 31, and Dan, 32, hope he could be walking unaided by the end of the year.

William has now received the Lady Sue Trevor Award by the charity's staff to recognise his efforts and progress. He and his mum received the award and a certificate at a ceremony at The Venue at Park Hall, near Oswestry, last week.

Mrs Armstrong, a teacher at Penygloddfa Primary School in Newtown, said: "When William first started at the Movement Centre he couldn't even hold his head up. Now he has walked a mile – I am really proud of him.

"At the start of last year he was weight dependant and needed support to stand and walk. He could only take about four steps before he was worn out. But he managed to walk a mile along the promenade at Aberystwyth holding just one of our hands. He got very tired but kept going and did so well.

"He has to put up with so much but is such a smiley little four-and-a-half year old boy who loves every day. He started mainstream school in September and has come on so much from being around other children. He is such a happy little boy and we are so proud of him.

"We are so grateful to the Movement Centre – the staff do a fantastic job and we owe them everything. So little is known about Neuhauser Syndrome – I think only three other children have been diagnosed with it in the UK – but the staff have done so much for William."

According to the charity, Targeted Training develops functional skills required for head control and sitting and, where possible, standing and walking in children with cerebral palsy and similar conditions which affect movement control.

After completing his training at the Movement Centre, William underwent further therapy at a specialist centre in Cardiff and now spends every day carrying out muscle exercises.

For details on The Movement Centre or Targeted Training visit www.the-movement-centre.co.uk or call (01691) 404248.