AN EBBW Vale toddler who thought he may miss out on learning to ride his first bike has been given the chance thanks to a national charity.

Two-year-old Ryan Cunningham suffers from hemiplegia, a condition which affects movement and posture and means he cannot walk or stand without support.

Because of the condition, little Ryan has not got the muscle development to ride a standard bicycle and so has been a “disappointed onlooker” when seeing other children ride about.

But now national charity Caudwell Children, which provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families, has helped to raise the £1,258 needed to buy Ryan a specialist tricycle.

Cassandra Cunningham, Ryan’s mum, said the tricycle has not only helped her son but also the whole family.

She said: “I can’t really put into words what it means to Ryan.

“He’s a very active little boy, despite his disability, and he would get so frustrated when he couldn’t go outside. He even gets upset if he’s in his pushchair or needs to be carried too much so the trike has been fantastic.

“He simply loves it. He’s been out peddling after his dad and his friends with a huge smile on his face. It’s made everyone so happy.

“Now he doesn’t have to sit on the side lines anymore, he can join in with his five-year-old brother Isaac.”

Specialist tricycles are especially designed to assist disabled children in their physical development.

The tricycle is also important in developing Ryan’s fitness. Ms Cunningham, 28, said: “To develop leg muscle, Ryan has been attending physio for over a year. He’s also had rebound and hydrotherapy and we also take him swimming twice a week.

“However, the new tricycle has been engineered to make pedalling that much easier, and now he can pedal everywhere. The tricycle allows Ryan to exercise without really noticing it. The extra physical exercise will allow him to burn off even more energy and develop muscle tone.”

Lisa Bates, head of applications at Caudwell Children said the tricycle not only provides physical therapy but also an increased sense of independence and social inclusion.

She said: “We’re delighted that the tricycle has had such a huge impact on the whole family.

“Unfortunately, these highly specialised pieces of equipment come at a price, but with the continued support of the local community we can help even more children like Ryan.”

To find out more about Caudwell Children visit: www.caudwellchildren.com