Young amputee Tommy to get new legs as fund hits £20,000 target
Young Tommy Brown lost both his legs and his right arm to meningitis.
Little Tommy Brown who lost both his legs and his right arm to meningitis is to get new legs thanks to a five-year fundraising campaign.
The youngster’s parents, Julie Tuckley and Dean Brown, have been fundraising for their boy ever since tragedy struck when he was just five months old.
After dozens of fundraisers involving a number of famous faces, the £20,000 target has been hit.
Mother Julie, from Lister Close, Walsall, said: “Everybody has been absolutely amazing, we are so grateful. Words cannot explain how much everyone has done.”
However despite the money needed being raised, Tommy, now aged five, will have to wait to get his new legs due to his age.
Julie explained: “We have been fundraising for Tommy all his life. He is not ready for his new legs yet but when he is the money will be available for him.
“He finds it hard to get about with his normal NHS legs but he needs to wait until he can walk better in them before getting his new legs.
“We do not want to make the mistake of going private and getting a pair of legs, only for him to outgrow them and us need to buy a new pair in 18 months – which we would not be able to afford.”
The fundraising target was hit over the weekend thanks to West Bromwich Albion, Tommy’s favourite club, holding a collection for him before the home match against Stoke on Sunday. He was made community champion in a day he ‘loved’.
The Baggies have done lots to help out young Tommy, including helping with a special charity night and captain Jonny Evans providing numerous items to be auctioned off.
Previous events to raise money for Tommy have included a swimathon and a charity snooker night, featuring former world champion Ken Doherty.
Back in 2012 Tommy was given just a five per cent chance of survival after contracting meningococcal septicaemia, leaving doctors forced to amputate both his lower legs, his right arm and some of the fingers on his left hand.
Julie, 41, said: “I want my baby to have the legs you see some of the former soldiers have. They did nothing wrong and neither did my baby.
“He has already lost his childhood and I will not allow this to rule his life. When he is a teenager I want him to be able to run round like everyone else. He defied the odds.”
