The family of a 10-year-old boy who suffers more than 30 seizures a day are fundraising for a portable hoist to help him around the home.

Freddie Piper suffers from a complex childhood epilepsy condition which affects his mobility and causes numerous seizures.

His Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, combined with developmental delays and cardiac abnormalities, makes it difficult to get around the family home.

Now, the family, who live in Worcester Park, are hoping to raise £2,315 for the hoist.

Mum Nadia Piper said: "We got the hoist back in the summer, but only had the ceiling track hoist fitted in his bedroom and wet room at the beginning of January.

"It makes life a lot easier for his carers, who come and help after school and overnight.

"We live in an adapted house so Freddie doesn't have to go upstairs, but we need to have the hoist because he's over a certain weight and it's hard to lift him.

"From a legal point of view, we have to have one.

"The mobile hoist can be used in the rest of house but also if we go away.

"We can't go on holiday at the moment and we wouldn't dream of going abroad - we need that support."

Disabled children charity Newlife lent the family the portable hoist last summer, but the loan period is coming to an end.

Having equipment of their own would help the family move Freddie if he has a seizure in the living room, support transfers from one piece of seating to another and enable him to enjoy activities playing with sister Edith, four, in the garden during the summer.

Nadia added: "Through its emergency equipment loan service, Newlife offered us a portable hoist – and it has been invaluable.

"A portable hoist will give him greater freedom of movement and allow him to have more dignity as he grows up."

Freddie was recently diagnosed with PURA syndrome, a new condition discovered by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute's Deciphering Developmental Disorders study.

The rare genetic condition affects brain development, and symptoms include seizures or epilepsy, movement disorder and non-epileptic movements, and low muscle tone throughout childhood.

It has left Freddie unable to speak or sign, but technology such as iPads - which his school are exploring investing in - make communication easier for him.

Newlife is the UK’s leading charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness.

It is currently receiving more equipment grant applications for help than at any time in its 25-year history.

Nadia said: "Newlife have provided us with absolutely invaluable equipment by loaning the mobile hoist.

"We have had to wait a considerable amount of time for the ceiling hoists to be fitted and wouldn’t have managed without the mobile hoist.

"Having a severely disabled child with complex medical needs is all consuming.

"We are constantly having to fight for support, respite and equipment, we appreciate any help no matter how small.

"We are incredibly grateful to all the charities that have supported us in the past and continue to do so both nationally and locally."

Newlife's consultant nurse Karen Dobson said: "To meet current applications for vital specialist equipment, Newlife needs more than £8,000 a day – every day.

"With continued budget cuts in the statutory sector and an increasing number of children with disabilities, we are aware that without public support Newlife will not be able to assist all those families who look to us for essential help.

"While medical expertise continues to save children's lives, we require help to support families’ daily equipment needs. Families like yours and mine."

If you would like to support Freddie in getting his equipment, go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk/surrey 
and click on the donate button next to his story.