Family fundraiser launched to buy special trike for disabled Perth boy

Young Dylan Imrie (12) became wheelchair-bound after a mirror collapsed on him in a horror incident at his great-grandparents’ Tulloch home

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A family fundraiser has been launched to help a Perth boy who suffered serious life-changing injuries as a youngster get out and about.

Young Dylan Imrie (12) spent 11 months in hospital after a mirror collapsed on him in a horror incident at his great-grandparents’ Tulloch home in August 2015.

The Fairview School pupil was just four-years-old at the time and he suffered a cardiac arrest after an artery in his leg was severed in the accident.

But the fighting four-year-old miraculously defied the odds and having bravely adapted to life in his wheelchair over the years, relative Kay Wood has set up a GoFundMe page to have a custom-made Tomcat Apprentice Trike built for Dylan.

It is hoped £5,000 is raised so Dylan can join other kids in the neighbourhood who head out on their bikes.

So far £1,150 has been raised.

Dylan still attends physio, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy as part of his rehabilitation.

And so doting mum and dad Louise and Ally were delighted to hear of Louise's Auntie Kay's fundraising idea to give Dylan a leisurely boost.

"I didn't expect it from her – in a really nice way," Louise said.

"He has a trike but he has outgrown it.

"It is around £5,000 for a new one with it costing £1,300 and the rest is on the disability modifications to suit Dylan.

"It is for exercise and a bit of fun. He can't ride a bike of his own as he will never walk again.

"Every 12-year-old should have a bike and just because he has got a disability it doesn't mean he shouldn't have one.

"He sees children out on bikes over the Easter holidays and he just wants to be one of them. We would not leave him on his own and we have a garden he can ride around in also.

"But it is money we, and most families, sadly don't have."

Louise said Dylan is close to sisters Demi (20) and Abbie (15) and that his disability never gets him down.

"He is never sad. He just gets on with it," she said.

"His eldest sister is studying Paediatric Nursing and he is a bit of a reason for her doing that.

"It would mean everything to him if he got a trike.

"He is so upset that he doesn't have a bike to go out on.

"If we say ‘let's go for a walk’, he is still in his wheelchair.

"It is a chance to keep him active and go out on his own."

Dylan has had the chance to go for a test run at home on a few trikes brought over by Tomcat, a manufacturer and custom builder of disability trikes.

The company also carried out an assessment at Louise's home recently and took measurements before quoting the price for a trike perfectly tailored to Dylan.

GoFundMe organiser Kay Wood said Dylan "deserves" to have a trike of his own.

"I had spoken to Louise about it and then I started the fundraiser," she said. "His mum and dad are excellent with him and I think they were pleased about it.

"Anything Dylan is needing will be used through to being a teenager.

"Trikes are so expensive so we can't afford to buy a disabled one for him on our own.

"But if we can raise the money it is something to use when he is home for exercise and a bit more independent." He is such a positive wee boy."

Louise and Kay both paid a heartfelt thanks to all those who have donated so far.

To donate go to https://gf.me/v/c/hkw3/Dylan-Tomcat-Apprentice-Trike