An appeal to help a Suffolk family coping with a severely autistic child who is unable to sleep through the night has reached its target – after an anonymous donation for the full amount.

The Moore family, from Framlingham, find night-times an exhausting ordeal due to the complex needs of their four-year son Rhys, who only sleeps for 90 minutes at a time.

His mother and father, Sarah and Kevin, who also have three other children, aged seven, 12, and 15, had been unable to secure funding for a specialist Safespace Hi-Lo bed which would provide a secure tented environment for Rhys to sleep in and allow the family a restful night.

Children’s charity, Over the Rainbow, launched by Bev Lambert, set out to raise the £6,500 for the bed – and after a story appeared in the EADT, it received exciting news.

Mrs Lambert, 55, of Alderton, said: “A woman read the story in the paper and contacted me to say she wanted to donate the whole £6,500 – she really wanted to help someone local and know that the money had made a difference to someone’s life.

“I am absolutely chuffed and cannot thank the woman – who has asked to be anonymous – enough for her help, and also the EADT for its support for our charity.

“We are now working with the occupational therapists to ensure that the special bed is the correct solution and to get it ordered. It will make a hug difference to Rhys and his family. I cannot understand how his family manage to live.”

The Moore family, Tudor Close, Framlingham, say that because of his health problems, Rhys only sleeps for 90 minutes and then wakes everyone else up. Because he can climb over safety gates, he does not stay in his own room and his mother is currently having to sleep downstairs on the sofa next to him.

Mrs Lambert, who works as recruitment manager at Lowestoft-based Kingsley Healthcare, said the charity would now begin seeking another family with children who are living with a serious illness or disability to help.

The charity is holding An English Afternoon Tea on Saturday, February 20 at Alderton Village Hall – advance tickets are £8.50 and can be booked via email info@overtherainbow-childrenscharity.org.uk or call 07867 335916.