'It's the best Christmas present' - Sunderland family's joy as £20,000 target for 'life-changing' lift reached

Little Alfie Doran was diagnosed with Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy which affects him from the chin down just one week after his first birthday.

His devoted parents have spent over six months raising the £20,000 needed to install a lift in their home – which will stop their nightly struggle of carrying the youngster, who grows bigger and heavier every day, up the stairs to his bedroom.

The brave boy also has epilepsy and a variable squint and is very prone to chest infections – so winter is a particularly tough time for the youngster.

Now the family, who have been supported by the Bradley Lowery Foundation, have surpassed their target – and are hoping work will begin to install the much-needed lift in the new year.

Sophie Dow, mum of Alfie and his twin Brody-Lee, said: “This lift will make such a big difference to us. We won’t have to worry about carrying Alfie up and down the stairs – which is becoming more and more of a struggle.

“It means he will be able to stay upstairs with the whole family and won’t have to sleep downstairs on his own – especially in the winter when he picks up chest infections so easily it’s so important that we can be near him.

“It’s the best Christmas present – we’re so thankful for everyone’s donations and the support of the Bradley Lowery Foundation who got fundraising started for us.”

The funds raised will also go towards improvements to the garden to make it accessible for Alfie to be able to enjoy.

Gemma Lowery, founder and CEO of the Bradley Lowery Foundation, said: “Myself and the team at the foundation are delighted that Alfie’s family have managed to raise all the money to install the new lift. It’s a lovely Christmas present for him and his family.

“Alfie’s one of dozens of children the foundation is working with around the UK, who need a little bit of extra support to access equipment and treatment the government doesn’t provide.”