Sussex boy launches trick-shot fundraiser

Charlie has been practising his own trick shots during his treatment

A boy from West Sussex has inspired a social media challenge based on his love of performing "trick shots" to raise money for those in need of specialist physical therapy.

Charlie,10, from Angmering, was born prematurely and lost the use of his lower body at 18 months old, caused by an abnormal tangle of blood vessels rupturing and damaging his spinal cord.

He now has regular treatment at Crawley-based rehabilitation centre Neurokinex, which launched the challenge, and wants others to benefit from the same innovative therapy.

His dad Jamie said he was integral to the #TopBinsSmallWins challenge because he is "really inspirational" and "doesn't let anything he's been through get him down".

Already backed by Olympian wheelchair rugby gold medallist Kylie Grimes, participants can either film themselves landing a trick shot into a bin or attempt a "small win" by posting themselves achieving a personal milestone, before nominating friends to do the same.

Setting his sights on the challenge hitting its £50k target, Charlie is said to be making great progress at Neurokinex, where he is one of the first paediatric clients.

And all that progress comes despite major interruptions to his therapy due to the Covid lockdown, a broken femur and a three-year battle with leukaemia - time away which contributed to his hip becoming misaligned and his spine curved.

Not even the prospect of needing further corrective surgery as he gets older manages to faze him.

"Charlie is just a really bubbly, positive and enthusiastic little boy," said Jamie.

"He wakes up every day with a positive outlook and a smile and he takes his challenges in his stride."