Boy who uses a ventilator in charity bike race

Stuart Haratt
BBC News
Abigail Jones Media A smiling Henry cycling on his red bike with his ventilator in a trailer behind. He is wearing a black helmet, a white shirt with blue stripes and black shorts.

Abigail Jones Media
Henry cycled along Bridlington seafront to raise money

A Bridlington boy who uses a ventilator has raised almost £600 after taking part in in a relay race on behalf of a charity that designs equipment for children with disabilities.

Henry, 7, cycled along the town's seafront last week using a specially designed trailer holding his breathing equipment.

His leg was part of a 2,500 mile (4,024 km) national race from Glasgow to Windsor to generate funds for the Cerebra charity.

The Welsh-based organisation has produced specially adapted paddleboards, bikes and wheelchairs, which it provides for free.

Head of product design Dr Ross Head said the charity responded to requests directly from families.

"Whether it's an adapted bike, a paddle board or a device to help a child throw a ball for their dog, each product has a real impact on a child's life," he said.

"We might only make one or two of each item, or we might produce hundreds, but they are so well-used because it meets a real need for that child."

Henry was born with multiple medical conditions and needs help to breathe through a tube in his neck.

Despite requiring a ventilator 24 hours a day he plays football, cycles and learnt to swim.

Dr Ross Head from Cerebra he has brown hair and wears glasses and is wearing a black shirt with the organisation name in white letters on the left breast he is standing in front of a 3D printer and a cutting machine
Dr Ross Head said Cerebra has produced hundreds of specially adapted items

His mother Shevonne said that wherever Henry goes the medical equipment "has to move with him".

"The difference with Henry is that he is a mobile child as well and he's running, climbing and everything and he has always been that way," she told the BBC One Show.

"Dr Ross made these trollies ready for us to try different prototypes.

"All of getting up to this point Henry being so independent is down to those solutions that Dr Ross has made for us."

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