NORTH-EAST businesses are asked to help children with cerebal palsy by recycling their ink cartridges.

Brogen's Appeal, a fundraising body which is in the process of being granted charitable status, raises cash to send cerebal palsy sufferers to South Africa for the latest treatment.

The charity is named after Brogen O'Rourke, from Hartlepool, who was left deaf, blind and with cerebal palsy after birth complications.

Her parents, Lisa and Fintan, set up the appeal to try to help other families who have children with cerebal palsy.

Terry Jonas, chief executive of Brogan's Appeal, said: "We go round companies picking up ink cartridges and printer cartridges and we get them recycled.

"It is good for the company and it is good for us because we can make money for the charity out of it, as well as helping the environment."

The appeal already has about 470 companies in its scheme in the region.

Like one in 2000 children in the UK, Brogen was starved of oxygen at birth, which led to the cerebal palsy.

In South Africa, where one in 400 people suffer from the condition, the facilities to deal with it are better. Brogen will spend her first birthday there.

She leaves on Saturday for a course of treatment in the country and celebrates her birthday on March 10.

Anyone wanting to make a donation, or be involved in the cartridge recycling scheme, can phone 0870-0800-353.