Brave little Tomi is coming on by leaps and bounds.

Byline: Sarah Bunney

THE smile on little Tomi Roberts- Jones' face says it all.

Despite suffering a stroke before he was born, the three-year-old is a bundle of energy and coming on in leaps and bounds.

And it is largely thanks to Bobath Children's Therapy Centre Wales, which is appealing for 500 people to sponsor a child just like him.

Launching its first Sponsor a Child Week which runs until Friday, Bobath provides specialist care for children with cerebral palsy.

Tomi's parents, Wendy and Nant Roberts-Jones, are backing Bobath's appeal to raise much-needed extra funds.

Tomi, from Heath, Cardiff, has been attending the centre for three years.

His mum Wendy, 35, said: "Up until three years ago Bobath Children's Therapy Centre Wales to us was just another children's charity. We were unaware of its significance to children with specific disabilities.

"We were introduced to Bobath by a friend whose daughter regularly visited the centre and we then approached our neurologist, who referred Tomi for specialist therapy," said Wendy, who is married to Nant, 40.

Although having a child with specific disabilities has been difficult to come to terms with, Wendy and Nant have found support in Bobath's therapy for Tomi.

"The service that our son, and us as parents, have received during our visits to Bobath has been outstanding and most importantly extremely productive and beneficial to Tomi," said Wendy.

"There has been a marked improvement in his posture and movement - the service is invaluable and is helping him reach his full potential."

Since it was set up in June 1992, Bobath, based in Whitchurch, Cardiff, has improved the lives of children with cerebral palsy throughout Wales.

During that first year, 45 children were treated there. Now, 18 years later, more than 200 children need its specialist therapy - and demand is rising, with a child diagnosed every six hours.

Bobath fundraising manager Gail Griffiths said: "We need people's help.

By sponsoring a child like Tomi and donating a minimum of just pounds 5amonth people can help us continue to provide specialist therapy to a child with cerebral palsy.

"It will also help us to expand our capacity so we can see more children like Tomi who need us. Because the gift is regular, it will help us plan ahead in the knowledge that we have some money coming in each month."

Tomi goes to school every afternoon and Wendy describes him as a "really active, happy little boy".

"He and his elder brother I wan get on very well - they are like two peas in a pod," she said.

For more information on sponsoring a child like Tomi, contact the fundraising team on 029 2052 2600, e-mail [e-mail] or visit www.bobathwales.org/sponsor-a-child.php to download a form.

CAPTION(S):

Tomi Roberts-Jones, aged three, and his dad Nant, of Heath, Cardiff. Tomi had a stroke before he was born PICTURE: Peter Bolter