A TEENAGER with a love for adventurous sport braved the North Sea on a jet ski to raise money for a specialist centre for children suffering from cerebral palsy or dyspraxia.

Matthew Garner, who has cerebral palsy, took part in the fundraising event with his father, Russell.

They were joined by television presenter Pam Royle on their ride from Hartlepool to Whitby and back.

The 15-year-old, of Billingham, goes to the Heel and Toe centre in Framwellgate Moor, near Durham, twice a week and it has become a major part of his life.

Mr Garner, a production manager at a printing company, said: “The centre does a lot of fundraising events to ensure it can offer services to young people like Matthew, so we decided we would do something to help.

“We came up with the idea of riding from Hartlepool to Whitby and back on our jet ski and Matthew had a cracking time. He rode on the front with me on the way there, but I had to make the decision to ride back alone because the choppy sea conditions would have made it really difficult for us both.”

The teenager, who has been riding on his father’s jet ski for six years, was also joined by members of the Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club for the fundraising event.

They are hoping to raise more than £1,000 for the centre, which is used by children throughout the North-East.

The centre offers free conductive education therapy to any child living in the region, from Northumberland to North Yorkshire, who suffers from cerebral palsy, dyspraxia or any other motor disorder, including microcephaly, development delay, speech and language delay.

News presenter Ms Royle, who is a member of the yacht club and joined the teenager on the journey, said it was a fantastic day.

“When we set off back to Whitby the oil warning light came on one of the jet skis, so we had to make a pitstop at Staithes, where we managed to get some two stroke oil from one of the harbour commissioners, Norman Fowler, so much thanks to him for getting us all back safely,” she said.

“All in all it was a fantastic day and it was great to support the charity.”

For more information about the charity, visit heelandtoe.org.uk