LITTLE Luis Hickman has been given a helping hand thanks to a legacy from a Stourbridge company.

Luis, who is nine and lives in Shenstone Avenue, Norton, suffers from a life-limiting condition known as chromosome 1p36 deletion.

It means the youngster cannot walk on his own and has to 'bumshuffle' his way around.

But following financial support from the John Porter Community Fund, Luis could benefit through intensive therapy provided by Footsteps Ltd.

Mum Gemma, aged 29, said: "Luis can't talk and has to be fed through a tube. But he's just started to walk with the help of some considerable assistance.

"We're hoping two intensive therapy sessions at Footsteps will give Luis the push he needs to enable him to start walking independently.

"The treatment is very expensive and costs around £3,000 a session, but Footsteps in Oxford is the only place in the country which can provide this type of therapy which Luis needs and children come from all over for treatment."

Gemma, a nursery nurse, had to give up work two years ago to help look after Luis.

She has three other children, Kian, aged seven, Dylan, aged four, and baby Poppy, who is just four months old.

She said: "It was just getting too difficult, trying to get time off work to attend hospital appointments with Luis.

"But we are encouraged by the fact that as Luis gets older, he will improve."

Luis is the latest beneficiary of the John Porter Community Fund which was set up to help good causes.

Other donations have been made in the latest round of awards to TidyStourbridge and Sunfield School through Philip Fellows and his 500-mile running challenge.

Lucy Porter confirmed: "We keep the majority of everyone who applies on file. We must already have enough applications to cover the next two years alone.

"But if a really good application comes along, we will always consider it."