‘Miracle’ boy set to shine at Accrington’s Christmas lights switch on (From Lancashire Telegraph)

‘Miracle’ boy set to shine at Accrington’s Christmas lights switch on

8:20pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News By Emma Cruces, Reporter

A BRAVE youngster who is the face of a fundraising drive to help other children, is to switch on Accrington’s Christmas lights.

Finley Rosbotham is set to shine at the town’s Christmas lights switch-on this year, to celebrate his amazing triumph over the odds.

It comes as a charity single is launched by East Lancashire band Chief Brody (formerly Polestar) to help Finley reach his target of £20,000.

The three-year-old was born with such severe cerebral palsy that his parents were told he would never even crawl or use his voice.

However Finley, with the help of his parents and therapists at Accrington’s Holly House, is now walking and talking.

In spite of being born with relevant motion and verbal sections of his brain missing, Holly House’s therapists encouraged him to regrow the brain tissue he needed to get on his feet.

Finley and his family are now driving a £20,000 fundraising campaign for the Blackburn Road centre to help other young children.

Deputy council leader Clare Pritchard said they were so impressed by the fundraising drive they decided to give the toddler the honour of switching on the town’s Christmas lights on Saturday, November 24.

She said: “We’re really touched by the efforts to raise £20,000 in aid of Holly House. We also thought it would be a lovely treat for Finley to be the guest of honour and to turn the lights on.”

Finley’s mum Kelly, who lives in Oswaldtwistle with husband Ivan, said: “I was just thrilled when they asked us could Finley do it. I know he’ll have a brilliant time and it’s wonderful news for Holly House that we can raise awareness of what they do. We were hoping to go on holiday before Christmas but couldn’t manage it. Now we’re glad we aren’t going to go away because this is so much better.”

Holly House at the Acorn Health Centre, in Accrington’s Blackburn Road, helps children with disabilities or special needs and their families. The centre also offer respite sessions for children up to three years old, giving hard pressed parents a break.

To find out more, visit www. charitygiving.co.uk/finleyrosbotham; follow at @finrosbotham, and www.facebook.com/Finleys FriendsFundraisingPage. To buy a copy of Star by Chief Brody visit itunes.apple.com/gb/album/star-feat.-finleys-friends

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