Bolton community rallies to help 'amazing young boy'

Ian Brown has raised over £45,000 so far for Sullivan’s Heroes, which provides grants, support and fundraising to adapt the homes of UK disabled children, and are helping him adapt his home in Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, for his son Thomas.

Thomas “is an amazing young boy who has defied all the odds,” Ian said.

His son was born 103 days early at Royal Bolton Hospital with his twin sister Mia in October 2012.

“Thomas is lucky to be alive,” Ian added.

Thomas Brown, 8, in Bromley Cross fundraising for Sullivan's House

His birth resulted in a brain bleed and further disabilities such as cerebral palsy, cortical visual impairment and epilepsy, But Ian says “this doesn’t stop Thomas”.

“He is a lively outgoing young boy, a well-known member of the Bromley Cross community and attends Green Fold special school in Farnworth,” he added.

Thomas relies on a wheelchair and for the last five years the family has been looking at how they can adapt their home to care for his long-term needs.

Thomas Brown, 8, with his dad Ian

The family is completely transforming the house for Thomas, making it accessible for him in his wheelchair, with the council also approving level access from the house to the pavement.

Everything was on track for the project before the pandemic hit. Thomas’s school closed, so Ian had to give up work to care for him and look after his three siblings while his mum Jo worked from home as a key worker.

Thomas Brown, 8, viewing the work to make the front of his house in Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, more accessible for his wheelchair

Despite the difficulties caused by the lockdown, the family managed to remortgage their house, secure a disabled facilities grant from Bolton at Home and raise funds through Sullivan’s Heroes.

Ian says he is extremely thankful for the support of their local community, including Turton Rotary Club and their local Morrisons Community champion, Julie.

The family has recently suffered some setbacks, including looking for a new builder to complete the job. But Ian is still determined to raise as much money as possible for the charity and get the job done for Thomas.

Work to the inside of Ian Brown's house in Bromley Cross to make it more wheelchair accessible for his son, Thomas, 8

Ian said: “We are just trying to adapt our home for Thomas’s long term needs so that he can have independence and be cared for with dignity.

“We have everything in place to start but we just cannot find a builder willing to take us on. Until we do, we are living in temporary accommodation that is even less suitable for Thomas’s needs.

SMILES: (left) Barry Jones, former president of Turton Rotary Club, handing a cheque for £1,000 to Ian Brown and his son, Thomas, as a donation to Sullivan’s Heroes to help transform their house

“To make matters worse, the charity Whizzkids has supported Thomas to get his first electric wheelchair which will give him tremendous independence.

“But until our home is adapted, he will only be able to use it at school.”

To find out more about the Brown family’s story, and to donate to the Sullivan’s Heroes cause, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Thomasjohnbrown

Thomas Brown, 8