A MOTHER from Basingstoke is hoping to raise money for a charity who she said gives her disabled son the “chance to be himself”.

Jodie Owen has set up the fundraising page in a bid to raise money for Forever Smiling.

Her two-year-old son Colby was born on May 4, 2019, after she went through a long labour ending in an emergency ventouse (suction) due to his ‘heart rate dropping’. He was born a “happy, healthy and an average size baby”.

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But Jodie noticed that Colby was missing the usual milestones.

He was diagnosed with Pereventricular Leukomalacia – damage to the ventricles of the brain usually caused by a bleed to the brain or oxygen/blood supply being cut off. This is believed to have been caused during Colby’s birth. He was also diagnosed with Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy.

Since then Jodie has used the charity to take Colby on some memorable days out and has set up a fundraising page in a bid to give something back.

The charity was set up in memory of a young man named Daniel Rolfe, nearly five years ago and organises events for families with disabled children.

Daniel had severe learning disabilities, ADHD, Tourette’s Syndrome, Epilepsy, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and many other physical health issues.

Jodie said: “I don’t know Charlene personally who set up the charity so I didn’t know Daniel, but we have been able to use the charity and get some of the benefits. They are coming up to their fifth year so I really wanted to raise more money for them.

“I am sure they have helped countless families and it is just being able to get out and have a nice day out because we don’t get the chance to do that often with Colby.

"I think it's just so special how another family from their heartbreak has been able to set up this lovely charity.

“I really feel like this is the least I can do.”

READ MORE: Basingstoke’s paraplegic racing driver makes history by being part of the first ever all-disabled team to race in a British championship

Jodie said it allows Colby to go out and meet other children who are similar to him.

She added: “For Colby it is just the chance to just be him and without him having to worry, it is just that bit of normality and a nice memory that we can share with him.”

For more information and to donate, visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/danielrolfeforeversmiling.

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