A BRAVE youngster whose parents were told may never walk again is taking part in his very own special charity fundraiser.

Rhys Taylor will try to walk one mile as part of the challenge to raise cash to buy him a new wheelchair.

The six-year-old, from Astley Bridge, was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome in September 2010 when he was just one year old.

The condition, which affects mostly children and young adults, is extremely rare with only a few hundred cases recorded in the past four decades.

Five years after the diagnoses Rhys's parents Sheri and Heath say their son has developed into a happy child and has steadily learned to walk, with an aid.

They are now fundraising for a special wheelchair for Rhys, which will allow them to take him to the beach and can even be adapted for activities like snowboarding, and say they are hoping to have the money in time to get the chair for Christmas morning.

And Rhys is determined to play a major role in the fundraising effort and after the Bryan Kennedy Trust donated £2,500 towards the £3,355 chair.

Sheri said: "Rhys isn't able to walk unaided so he'll be using his walker but he's going to try and walk his first mile. He's been working so hard to get where he is and now he's helping to raise money himself. We've taken him on walks every weekend but he's never reached a mile."

If the youngster manages to raise the money for the chair it will allow him and his parents to take on more varied family holidays with Sheri saying her inspirational son loves going to the beach but that visits were a challenge because his current wheelchair can't be used on the sand.

She added: "At the minute we're really restricted because the chair he has is great for going to school or the shops everyday but it's so restrictive when we try and go on family walks or family holidays, going to the beach is a nightmare because obviously wheelchairs don't work in the sand but this new wheelchair is amazing and can be taken anywhere. It can be used on the beach and has attachments so you can do things like snowboarding or go on the snow.

"He loves being outdoors, it's amazing watching his face light up and he has the biggest smile on his face you can imagine, he's inspiring."

Rhys's fundraising walk will take place on Saturday, November 28. If you want to donate go to http://4ourangel.org.uk/