Pub brings Tommy more comfort

Danny’s fund adds support

mmilehamchappell@thekmgroup.co.uk A toddler from Ashford with cerebral palsy has been presented with a specialist pushchair for better support, thanks to generous punters.

Two-year-old Tommy Head required a Mewa pushchair after his previous pushchair became unsuitable and was causing more damage to his curved spine, but he was not eligible for NHS funding until he was three.

Regulars at the Beaver Inn, south Ashford, raised hundreds of pounds in a matter of days to buy the pushchair as a present.

Tommy’s mother, Jessica Houps, 22, could not believe the full amount had been raised. She said: “I wasn’t expecting all of it. Within three days they’d managed to raise all the money.”

Jessica’s dad, Tony Houps, is a regular at the Beaver Inn.

The pushchair, which cost £750, has already made a huge difference to the family’s life.

Miss Houps, a single mother of two, from south Willesborough, said: “I took him out outside and, for the first time in a long time, he was trying to tell to tell me to go back out. He’s comfortable in it. I know that he’s not going to be in pain. Being in the other pushchair, I’d be out for 20 minutes because he’d be in pain. Now we can go into town. It’s all the little things that we didn’t do, that we can now that really makes a difference.”

Tommy will use the After the presentation, Beaver Inn landlady Jane Starkings said: “It went really well. All my locals were here. My regulars are very charitable.

“To raise that amount of money just before Christmas is outstanding.”

The Danny Hall Foundation, which aims to help local sports clubs and underprivileged children in the Ashford area in memory of Danny, also donated £200.

Brian Hall, from The Danny Hall Foundation, said: “The cause was so worthy and one of the reasons why we set up the foundation, and the money we donated has helped not only Tommy but his family as it has allowed Tommy to be more comfortable, so letting them stay out longer with him.” pushchair until he starts primary school.

Then he will be old enough to qualify for and use an electric wheelchair.

Tommy Head with his motheer Jessica Houps and above, at the Beaver Inn with Mark and Jane Starkings and generous regulars