Time is Precious, a local voluntary charity working hard to raise money for local children and families in hospital, has launched a new campaign to raise £33,000 to help transform two local boys’ lives.

The charity was set up in 2011 after the founders, Nicky and Neil Halford, lost their son, Ben, following a battle with cancer. The Halfords wanted to start a charity in Ben’s honour to help other children experiencing hospital stays, by creating a more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for both the child and their families.

The new campaign, called “Wish Week” has been launched to help raise money for two young boys, one of whom is six-year-old Zach, who has Cerebral Palsy. The Innowalk, a piece of equipment designed to help Zach to stand and walk, costs approximately £23,000 – a lot of money for his family to raise on their own.

Henry, who is now eight-years-old, would love his independence by not having to be pushed around everywhere in his wheelchair. In a video released by Time is Precious, his mother, Lara, said how “Henry wants to be able to join in with ‘normal’ things (especially in school with his peers) that we take for granted.” Henry’s Electric Wheelchair will cost around £10,000.

Nicky Halford, from Time is Precious, said: “We are encouraging schools, nurseries, work places and individuals to help raise as much as possible to help transform these boys’ lives.

“Any amount raised would be amazing. This could be done via a Mufti Day, where the particular colour we would like to go for this year is blue (but not compulsory, just an idea), cake sales etc.

“If we manage to raise this amount, the remainder will go towards other items such as – a moving picture in the RUH to calm children having a general anaesthetic for an MRI scan. This will help relax children and make the process a much less traumatic one for them and their parents/carers, and equipment to help prepare children for surgery and procedures in the RUH.

“We never know when our children will need to go into hospital, so your support means the world to us.”

Wish Week has been launched to not only raise much-needed funds for the boys, but to also help children with their own self-awareness, to help them become aware of disabilities and to demonstrate that we are all different.

If you would like to know more about Wish Week, visit the Time is Precious website: https://timeisprecious.org/

Time is Precious have also released a video of Zach and Henry to show how you can help them, and how the money raised would go towards transforming their lives. Visit: https://youtu.be/bUzBlw0fgp4