Team Toby hope to raise £10,000 for brave boy with cerebral palsy

Five-year-old Toby Horner has a complex mixed form of cerebral palsy which means he struggles to walk, eat and talk.

The condition also means he will face many operations - the first of which will take place on his legs later this year.

In a bid to make the youngster’s life as comfortable as possible and to buy him the aids and equipment he will need ‘Team Toby’ hopes to fundraise £10,000 over the next 12 months.

Spearheaded by his aunt Holly Wann and her husband Darren, along with a team of changing volunteers, the group are taking part in a range of gruelling tasks.

Holly, 30, from Cleadon Vale, South Shields, said: “Myself and my husband are heading a core team of five members in doing 12 challenges in 12 months.

“We have many other volunteers who are also taking part in some of the challenges for Toby.

“Our aim is to raise £10,000 for Team Toby.

The donation will aid in Toby being able to live a life that most of us deem normal and sometimes take for granted.”

Already the group has completed a 10km Total Warrior course in the Lake District Earlier this month.

Their next mission is to take part in the Yorkshire three peaks hike in September, followed by the Manchester half marathon in October.

Meanwhile Toby, who is big brother to Ethan, three and eight-month -old Lucas, is battling it out in the Best of South Tyneside Awards, where he’s been nominated in the Child of Courage category - the winners will be revealed next month.

Mum Tracey Horner, who lives with dad Adam, said: “His whole life so far works around therapies and daily care but he does it all with a smile on his face.

“He has a very silly sense of humour and loves to laugh. He is caring and loving and a real hero to everyone that knows him. Everyone that meets him loves him instantly.”