A YOUNG cerebral palsy sufferer has been given a new lease of life after his primary school classmates raised hundreds of pounds for a special trike.

Richard Traveller, six, of Denham Road, Canvey, can now be like his friends and cycle to school at St Joseph’s Primary School in Canvey. He will be able to join in games in the playground and have more independence.

Year six pupils heard about how a £1,060 trike would reduce his struggles with cerebral palsy and global development delay, which means he is slower to develop emotionally, and they decided they wanted to raise cash to fund it.

Throughout the school year year six pupils organised cake sales, penalty shoot-outs, book sales and challenges to raise more than £500. Another £200 was donated by one pupil’s dad, via the haulage company he works for in the town, STW Transportation Solutions. St Joseph’s School donated a further £300.