A FAMILY who launched a fundraising campaign to help their severely disabled son has been overwhelmed by the response.

The parents of three-year-old Liam Jefferson, who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, appealed for help to buy him a specialised car seat to transport him safely.

Around £1,500 was raised from family, friends and businesses after an online fundraising page was set up around six weeks ago.

Today, (Thursday, July 2) members of Birtley Rotary Club visited Liam’s home in West Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, to hand over the remaining £3,500 needed.

Club treasurer Peter Tipper, 74, from Bishop Middleham, County Durham responded after seeing the appeal in The Northern Echo last week.

He said: “I saw the article and picked up on it because the family is on our doorstep. We had a meeting and explained the situation and asked how people felt about it. There was not a great deal of discussion and we decided to give them the money to make it up. It is something worthy of support and in our area and that was it.

“It is great to be able to help the family. We raise lot of money in the area and it is good it is going back to someone in the area.”

Liam was born was born at just 27 weeks by emergency caesarean section and his parents, Paul Jefferson of Stanley, and mother Leanne Hull-McKay, hope the seat, as well as a trike and other equipment, will make his life easier.

He goes to Durham Trinity School, which caters for people with special needs, has two older sisters Paige, 13, and Leonie, seven, as well as 18-month-old brother Luke, who also has cerebral palsy, after being born at 25 weeks.

Miss Hull-McKay said: “It is amazing and is going to give Liam so much independence. We are so grateful to be able to see him play out and live as normal a life as possible.

“It was a hard decision to ask everybody for help and we did not think we would be to raise this much. It has been overwhelming.”

Liam’s family have launched a Facebook page ‘Liam has cerebral palsy’ and plan to hold a Halloween Fancy Dress Party at the Garden Farm pub in Chester-le-Street on October 31 to fund his ongoing support.

Their fundraising page can be found at www.gofundme.com/ug4v8ggs