AN inspirational young man living with cerebral palsy has been honoured for raising thousands of pounds to help a little boy battling the same condition.

Toby Wheeler, 25, may not be able to talk or walk without the use of the frame but he is a sharp, thoughtful and kind young man.

He recently graduated from the College Community Initiative and is looking to work with Age UK on the charity’s befriending service.

His achievements over the past year have been truly astonishing.

When he saw the plight of two-year-old Angus Grocott, who is facing his own struggle with severe cerebral palsy, he knew he had to help.

Angus was starved of oxygen after he was born in the fast lane of the A120.

It is widely accepted that early intervention, often with intensive speech and physiotherapy, is crucial to young children with the condition.

Angus’ parents are fundraising to get their son therapy, which they insist just isn’t available to the same degree on the NHS.

Harriett Renolds, who has cared for Toby for seven and a half years, agrees.

“Toby pays for everything privately. When he was younger he didn’t receive the support he needed,” she said.

“For the past nine years he has had physiotherapy.

“It is well known that early intervention with physio is absolutely key.

“Toby started walking after the age of 20, if he had had earlier intervention, who knows how much further he could have come by this stage of his life.

“It has a massive impact on mental wellbeing as well, to be able to contract muscles – even a bit more – it changes their whole perspective.”

“Even one little thing, like pushing a cup or taking a step, you can see what a huge thing and achievement it is.”

Over the past year Toby has raised almost £10,000 to help Angus.

He first organised the Wheeler Way Walk – a race specifically for people with disabilities – after he tried and failed to find a race in which he could compete.

More than 20 people took part and Toby raised thousands of pounds to put towards the total.

“We struggled with the numbers, it was a new event organised by someone with a disability," said Harriett. 

“I don’t think people really believed he could do it, but he did.

“Lots of people were coming up to us and asking us to do it next year and he will.”

He stumped up the rest of the cash by persuading nine members of his support team to jump out of an aeroplane for the cause and through his Boccia group for people with disabilities.

Harriett added: “He doesn’t seem to have a disability, physically it is quite severe and he is fully dependent on us for his care.

“But he is just a ray of sunshine.

“He really is always happy and always wants to help other people, he wants to be around other people.

“He enjoys being social, loves being with his friends and loves challenging himself.”

Toby’s efforts were recognised with a Pride of Essex award in the inspirational youth category.

The delighted fundraiser received his award at a glitzy ceremony hosted at Anglia Ruskin University’s Chelmsford campus.

Harriett said: “At the ceremony I was in tears as I always am when it comes to Toby.

“It was lovely and we had a great time.

“He was screaming when his name came up.

“When he realised he had won and when they were talking about what he has done it was amazing.”

Harriet and Toby are like family but she will soon be taking up a job opportunity elsewhere.

“The rest of the team have been with him for six years, no-one wants to leave him,” she said.

“We’ve watched him grow up. I am a similar age so we have grown up together really.

“It has been an emotional week, there has been a few tears from Toby, but I will stay in contact. It is more than just work to me.”