THE family of a little boy with severe disabilities has launched a fundraising campaign to build him a hydrotherapy pool.

Seven-year-old William Chambers, who lives in Marton, was born three months early weighing just 1lb 8oz.

From the beginning of his life he had to battle illness, including swine flu when he was two months old, after which extensive brain and lung damage was found.

Now he has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, meaning he cannot move his body. He also has epilepsy, visual impairment, microcephaly, severe global developmental delay and chronic lung disease.

His mother Joanna said: “William’s world is experienced in a very different way to how you or I experience it.

“He didn’t have a very good 2017. He was admitted to hospital nine times in nine months, including spending time in intensive care in Sheffield’s children’s hospital. He’s had a really tough time of it.”

She added there have been “dark, dark days”, when discussions have been had about stopping treatment - but that William amazed doctors by bouncing back.

“I am keen to make 2018 filled with great memories for William,” Joanna said. “We want to make the most of the time we have with him.

“He loves being in water, and being in a really warm place with lots of bubbles.”

William currently gets time in a local pool once a week, but only during term time.

Six months ago, with the help of family and friends, including Pickering Slimming Club, the family started Just For William, a fundraising campaign to raise £10,000 to build a special hydrotherapy room at their home complete with hoisting facilities, lights, music and sounds.

The hydrotherapy pool itself has been pledged by the Make A Wish Foundation charity, but it requires the construction of a specialist room, which is why the slimming club, of which Joanna is a member, started a collection, with two other members pledging to match what the group collected. They have now raised a total of £544.

“They’ve been really wonderful,” said Joanna.

Other fundraisers are also doing their bit. Penny Brepi from Brompton-by-Sawdon decided to cut off her hair for the Princess Trust and sponsorship is going to Just for William - her fundraising page raised £240 in three days.

A quiz night at the Sun Inn in Pickering last week was also very successful. Joanna said: “We made £314 from it and our current fundraising total is a whopping £3,232 of our £10,000 goal.”

The campaign’s next big event will be a five-hour aerobathon in September.

To read more and donate, go to youcaring.com/williamswish.