52 Lives

#500 Tom

Request: Donations / Gifts / Kind messages

This week, we’d like to help a 15-year-old boy called Tom.

Tom has a rare genetic condition that affects brain development and he has significant learning difficulties. He's non-verbal, extremely hyperactive and has challenging behaviours as well as epilepsy. His mum cares for him full-time.

Tom has always slept in a specialist bed. It’s the only type of bed where he can properly settle and be safe, but he has completely outgrown his current one (he's had it since he was five). He rocks a lot during the night, and ends up sleeping underneath the mattress. He's uncomfortable and it's affecting his quality of life.

What he really needs is a larger specialist bed (like the one pictured). There is a second-hand one available which his family have been saving for, but they would really benefit from some help. They have struggled with getting funding for it in the short term, meaning Tom would have to wait a long time. We’d like to help them buy it, so he can get the bed he desperately need right now.

Tom loves the outdoors, so we’ve also set up a wishlist with some bits to help create a calming, forest-themed bedroom for him.

*Name has been changed.

What We Need

1. Donations. We need to raise approx £1200 to help buy Tom the bed he needs. You can donate online or by text using the details below. 100% of what you give will be used to help him. Any funds we raise above what is needed for the bed will be used to help in other ways. 

2. Gifts from a wishilst: We have set up a small wishlist with some forest-themed bits and pieces for Tom's bedroom. To buy a gift, just click on the link below and you will be taken to Amazon where you can choose a gift from the wishlist, Tick 'this is a gift' and select the 'gift registry address' when you check out and it will be sent directly to Tom.

3. Kind messages: To send a kind message to the family, please write a message in the form below (your contact details won't be passed on), or you can post a message to: 52 Lives, Life # 500, PO Box 3154, Reading, RG1 9AT.

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(if you are sending a message of support for the person we’re helping, there is no need to fill in your email address or telephone number)

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