A DAD’S efforts to raise awareness of a condition which has left his little boy with a misshapen skull has led to pledges of more than £7,000.
Gary Hamilton, from Middlesbrough, is wearing a helmet around the clock – including at work – to let people know of the condition often called “Flathead syndrome”.
Gary and wife Michelle have set up The Alfie Fund in the name of their five month old son to help others with plagiocephaly and brachycephaly.
Fortunately Alfie has been wearing his own helmet, made by Technology in Motion, for over a month and his family are already able to see a difference.
The special helmets are £1,950 and Alfie’s mum and dad Michelle, 28, and Gary, 36, were aiming to raise £5,000.
But thanks to the generosity of the people in Teesside, the couple have already surpassed their target.
Among the most generous are the staff & residents of Pennyman House in North Ormesby who raised £650 from activities including bingo and raffles. Other community involvement includes East Middlesbrough Football Club who organised a bag pack in Morrisons, Berwick Hills and raised £400.
Gary, a business development manager from Middlesbrough Council’s sports and leisure services, said: “We are completely overwhelmed by everything people have done to raise money and awareness of the condition.
“It feels like the whole community has pulled together and the people at the home in North Ormesby have been absolutely amazing. We can’t say thank you enough.”
The Alfie Fund has received the support of some of Teesside’s biggest sporting names, including former Boro players Stewart Downing, Craig Hignett and Gary Pallister and 60m world record holding sprinter Richard Kilty, who have given their backing.
Helmet treatment, as it is known, is not funded by the NHS as it is regarded as cosmetic and it is felt there is not enough evidence yet to support its benefits, despite “flathead syndrome” being a recognised condition.
Only 1% of babies fall into the severe category and Alfie, who wears the helmet for 23-hours a day, falls into that 1%.
To donate visit https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/gary-hamilton-1 and to check on Gary and Alfie’s progress visit https://www.facebook.com/AlfieFund