A CHARITY for children with cerebral palsy has received £9,400 from The Northern Echo’s parent company’s charitable section.

The Gannett Foundation donated the money to the Heel and Toe Children’s Charity at its base in Framwellgate Moor, Durham City.

The charity has bought a former GP surgery in Front Street, Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, and needs £150,000 to pay for its conversion to a "high-specification" therapy centre.

The cheque was presented today (Wednesday, January 15) by The Northern Echo’s editor Peter Barron.

He said: “The Heel and Toe Children’s Charity does a fantastic job providing therapy for disabled children and it’s great to know that the money is going to a good home."

The charity's chief executive, Doug Long, said: “There will be five therapy rooms in the building and this particular money will go towards a wet room for children when they are there on short-term breaks.

“We will use the donation from Gannett Foundation to buy a ceiling track hoist to enable us to lift children out of their wheelchairs and place them on a wet room table, so we can safely clean them.

“We are grateful. This is an unbelievable amount of money, which will go a long way towards helping create a centre of excellence."

The charity was founded in 2008 and offers specialist therapies, including conductive education pioneered by Hungary’s Peto Institute, to youngers who have cerebral palsy, as well as other disabilities.

It is the only provider that provides the services free in the North-East.

The charity has raised £50,000 towards its goal.

To donate or volunteer contact 0191-386-8606 or email info@heelandtoe@org.uk.