THE parents of a ‘cheeky chappy’ whose muscle wasting condition has left him unable to walk have launched a fundraising bid for a specialist wheelchair.

Darwen toddler Leyton Wright, aged 19 months, was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in December, and the condition has already restricted the mobility of his legs.

MORE TOP STORIES:

With the disease getting progressively worse, parents Dominic and Tammy, both 24, are looking to raise £25,000 to buy him a SnapDragon wheelchair, which has a seat which can be lowered to floor-level.

Although still coming to terms with the bombshell news about the untreatable condition, The Avallon Way couple have channelled their energy into organising a sponsored bike ride from Darwen to Blackpool on June 14, with 25 people already signed up.

Dominic, who works for Shadsworth firm S.G. Aluminium Ltd, said: “Leyton had been hitting all his normal milestones but then stopped crawling last year, and we got him seen by a neurologist. When we got the diagnosis it was devastating for us, a complete bombshell, but we’ve just had to stay strong and positive.

“Leyton’s mental abilities haven’t been affected at all, and we’ve read lots of different success stories of people who have gone on to university and got their dream job. He’s still the same cheeky chappy and the happiest little boy I’ve known. He doesn’t seem to have let it get to him, and he’s come a long way with his words because he has to tell us everything he wants.”

SMA is a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and progressive loss of movement, and occurs due to deterioration in the nerve cells connecting the brain and spinal cord to the body’s muscles.

As the link between the nerves and muscles breaks down, the muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, sitting up, and moving the head become progressively weaker and shrink.

Leyton’s parents both carry the gene that causes Type 2 SMA, which is not life-threatening, but do not suffer from the disease themselves.

You can donate to the cause here: www.annabellerosefoundation.co.uk/leyton/4588281914