A 12-year old boy from Helston who suffers with complex health and learning issues is raising money for a charity close to his heart.

Freddie Gwilliams has already started his mission to raise funds for the Children's Hospice South West by walking every day for 30 days.

His mum Hayley describes her son as a cheeky, fun-loving, mischievous 12-year-old boy.

"He smiles constantly and has a wicked sense of humour. Freddie loves nothing more than playing with a football, listening to music and driving his remote control car," she said.

Freddie loves playing football in his frame

Freddie loves playing football in his frame

But unfortunately since Freddie was born he has had multiple operations due to health complications as he gets older, which means spending long periods of time in hopsital.

He ended up losing his large bowel which meant having a suprapubic catheter inserted and now needs to be fed TPN (total parenteral nutrition) via a hickman line in his chest - a form of feeding that totally bypasses the gut and instead feeds into a tube directly into the heart.

Freddie has recently been diagnosed with DDX6 syndrome, a rare condition that little is known about.

This condition leaves Freddie severe learning difficulties, unable to walk and unable to talk. He has scoliosis, kyphosis and sleep apnoea needing overnight cpap. He also has an ileostomy, a gastrostomy and a jejunostomy to help deal with the failure of his gut.

Freddie and his mum Hayley Gwilliams

Freddie and his mum Hayley Gwilliams

Although Freddie suffers with these conditions, he is now determined to raise money for the charity who have supported him over the past few years by taking to his walking frame when he is feeling up to it, and walking along supported by his family, including sister Evie, 13 and brother Casper, 7.

Freddie and his siblings love to enjoy playing ball together and because he spends most of his time lying down, Hayley said: "It's nice to see him stand up and kick a ball with them."

On Freddie's latest walk with his dad, he managed half a mile of walking - even though he'd been awake since 4am.

Freddie enjoying his Buzz Lightyear costume

Freddie enjoying his Buzz Lightyear costume

When Freddie goes on his walks his favourite thing to see is dogs, even though he is non-verbal, Hayley said: "His eyes light up."

Hayley has set up a JustGiving page which you can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Freddiewalk

There is also a Facebook page about Freddie's journey which is called Life with Freddie.

Big smiles from Freddie!

Big smiles from Freddie!