THE parents of a five-year-old with a rare neurological condition and skin disorder are ‘overwhelmed’ after raising the £5,000 needed for her specialist wheelchair within four days.

Matilda Callaghan suffers from Sturge-Weber syndrome and has already undergone 30 operations.

The condition, which causes learning difficulties, paralysis and seizures, means that Matilda is paralysed down her left side and is unable to walk.

The brave youngster also has various related conditions, including epilepsy, glaucoma, hemiplegia, visual impairment and a port wine stain that covers most of her face and many areas of her body, which she has lasered to keep at bay.

The laser treatment causes purple polka dots to appear on her face, which remain for three-four weeks.

In a bid to improve their daughter’s quality of life, her parents Paul, 48, and Rebecca, 44, from Leigh made an online GoFundMe page with a £5,000 target.

With the help of generous donations, the family hit their target in just four days and have now raised £6,685.

Paul, a civil engineer said: “Our friends, family and the public have been amazing. We really are overwhelmed with the response.

“We are a family that wants to look after our own, but sometimes you just need to reach out and see if there is any help out there, and that’s what we did.”

The new wheelchair, which is being supplied by Murray’s Medical in around six to eight weeks, has been custom designed for Matilda’s needs and will hopefully allow her to progress.

Paul added: “We want to be able to give her the best life we possibly can.

“We are not saying that this chair will solve all her problems, because we know it won’t, but if we can give her a chance and keep pushing her to progress then we will try it.

“She will be able to try to operate it herself and it also has a Hemi handlebar on the left hand side, which will entice her to use her left hand.

“We have had a lot of help from people out there. Matilda’s Hope School has been amazing, as has her GP practice Premier Health and Alder Hey.

“We are just so thankful to everyone.”

To watch Matilda's story so far go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKfF8fkHlkI