A six-year-old girl from Gerrards Cross with a rare genetic disorder is celebrating after getting a specialised trike thanks to funding from a children’s charity.

Hope Moreton has Apert syndrome, which has caused her fingers and toes to become severely deformed, making it impossible for her to ride a bike.

However adaptations on the specialised trike mean that Hope can pedal backwards instead of using the handles to brake, which means she can now join her twin brother and older sister on family bike rides for the first time, with mum Claire saying it has been a “game changer” for the family.

With specialised trikes costing more than £1,000, Claire applied to charity Children Today for funding.

The charity provided a grant for the full £1,200 cost, with Claire saying the timing of the donation was “fantastic” as it was getting more difficult for the family to go out together.

She said: “This trike has made a huge difference to our family and we’re so delighted that Children Today were able to provide this grant as we would never have been able to buy the trike without their support. 

“As Hope can’t walk very far without pain we would often be restricted in what we could do together as a family by her physical limitations, especially as she’s getting too old for me to carry her now. 

“Now on her trike she’s able to do so much more which has given her more independence and is helping to build her confidence. 

“She’s taken to it like a duck to water, she’s giving her twin brother lifts on the back of the bike and can ride even better than him now.”

As well as riding the trike herself, Hope can also be pushed along with her parents on it.

Claire added: “The trike is helping develop her muscles and improve her physical wellbeing as she is doing more exercise, yet when she gets tired we can push her for a while. 

“Hope is not in pain as often and she is incredibly proud to be riding her ‘big girl’s bike’ as she calls it. This really has been a game changer for our family.”

Charity spokesman Emma Prescott said: “Children Today provides funding for specialised equipment for children and young people with disabilities under the age of 25 across the UK but receives no government funding so is reliant on voluntary donations to keep providing these grants and making a positive impact to the lives of children like Hope.”

If you know a child that needs funding for a specialised piece of equipment, go to www.childrentoday.org.uk.