AN Essex mum is appealing for a caring volunteer to help her implement a vital and life-changing exercise programme for her disabled daughter.Abby Moran, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, is a bright and bubbly toddler who will be celebrating her third birthday in a few weeks time.

AN Essex mum is appealing for a caring volunteer to help her implement a vital and life-changing exercise programme for her disabled daughter.

Abby Moran, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, is a bright and bubbly toddler who will be celebrating her third birthday in a few weeks time.

Sitting in her high chair at her grandmother's house watching children's characters The Tweenies on television she appears just like any other youngster her age - responsive, alert and aware of what is going on around her.

However, four months ago it would have been a different story - but since taking part in a specialised exercise programme she has come on in leaps and bounds.

Organised by Brainwaves, a charity which supports children suffering from physical and mental disabilities, the simple exercise programmes are carried out on a daily basis at home and can improve the way disabled children interact with the world around them, boosting their independence.

Abby's mother, Kate Shattock, contacted Brainwaves earlier this year after finding the charity on the internet.

Single mum Miss Shattock, of Prettygate, Colchester, said she had seen a dramatic improvement in her daughter since she started the exercises and added: “Already she is so much more alert.

“She can balance and she's much stronger. I would like to see Abby become as independent as possible.

“No-one can predict what the outcome will be but the progress so far has been very positive.”

However, Miss Shattock fears that her daughter's vital exercise programme will have to end because she cannot find an extra pair of hands to help her.

The special exercises require two people to carry them out because they involve synchronised co-ordination - her mother has been helping out, but now other care obligations mean she will not have as much time to assist.

Miss Shattock appealed for a caring person, possibly someone in a similar situation, to offer half an hour once or twice a day to help with Abby.

She said: “Caring for a child with cerebral palsy is tough for a single mum and my mother is now caring for her own mother who has Alzheimer's.

“Some days we don't have time to do the exercises at all. Having someone to help me with Abby's exercise programme would take the pressure off me and my mum and it would benefit Abby considerably.”

Miss Shattock is also keen to set up a local support group for families in similar situations to provide a network of people able to offer each other help and support, as well as ease the loneliness of being a parent of a child with special needs.

Anyone interested in the support group or anyone able to offer some of their time to help Abby can contact Miss Shattock via e-mail at: katieshattock@hotmail.co.uk.

Internet link: www.brainwave.org.uk.