A DAD is running to help to give his four-year-old son, who has a rare chromosome disorder, a travel cot that will allow the 'bundle of energy and enthusiasm' to go on holidays.

Matthew Hill from Padgate was diagnosed with duplication 15q syndrome, which causes severe global development delay, shortly before his first birthday.

The four-year-old is unable to speak and currently has the development of a child aged one, while the condition also severely limits his sense of danger.

Dad Ian said: "The condition itself has quite a range of symptoms.

"Matthew is non-verbal, which means he can't talk, and communication wise we're reliant on our interpretation of his needs.

"If he's upset we have to look out for signal because he can't just say that his leg hurts, or he's hungry or he's tired.

"He has no awareness of danger at all and whenever he's awake he has to be monitored quite closely to make sure that he doesn't stand on the back of the sofa and fall down or anything like that.

"There's a constant level of care throughout the day."

Described as a 'bundle of energy and enthusiasm' who loves to explore the outdoors and play with his two older sisters, Matthew is unable to go on holiday as it is too dangerous to put him to bed without a specialised cot.

Ian is set to run the Birchwood 10k next month to raise money for charity Dreams Come True, who have pledged to buy a travel bed for Matthew.

The 37-year-old, who also volunteers for the charity, added: "At night, Matthew sleeps in a specialist bed that keeps him from wandering around the house which allows us to sleep soundly ourselves.

"That's why we need the travel bed, because if we want to go on holiday or even to see his grandparents in the Lake District there are a lot of hazards.

"Holidays abroad especially are impossible.

"It will become his safe space while we're away and a familiar thing for him, as routine is quite important to keeping him happy.

"The help that Dreams Come True is providing will help us to achieve normality and be able to do normal family things that everybody tends to take for granted."

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