THE mother of a boy with a rare chromosome disorder was struggling to buy a special wheelchair cover that would allow her son to join his brothers on family trips until the Shannon Bradshaw Trust stepped in.

Nikki Cunnington’s son Ethan is three-and-a-half years old and suffers from a chromosome disorder and severe brain damage, which makes him dependent on a tracheostomy and oxygen.

“There are only four children in the north west (with the condition) – he is the youngest case and the worst case,” said Nikki.

Ethan was growing out of his buggy and the wheelchair hood he needed would cost more than £200.

‘We can go out with the family and know that my son is going to be safe’ Nikki Cunnington Nikki, from Birchwood, said she appealed to numerous charities to help her buy the hood but they told her she would have to wait weeks for them to decide.

“His legs were hanging over the edge of the buggy – it was quite scary to use,” she said.

Nikki shared her appeal on Facebook and Patti Bradshaw, from the Shannon Bradshaw Trust, said the charity would fund Ethan’s new wheelchair hood.

“I am made up with everything,” said Nikki.

“We can go out with the family and know that my son is going to be safe.

“In half term he loves to go to the aquarium, anywhere not too crowded and the beach in Wales.

“Now he has got his wheelchair, it will hopefully be a lot better for him.”

Ethan’s two older brothers are also thrilled with the new cover because it means they can push his wheelchair around.

“They love pushing his wheelchair but when he was in his buggy they couldn’t push it. We’re very happy,” said Nikki.