A little girl who was unable to walk due to a disability has taken her first steps with the help of a specialist trike.

Faith Preece, three, who was born with brain damage, often struggles with her mobility, balance and co-ordination. Her mother thought she would never walk due to a lack of strength in her body.

However,  the Chailey Heritage Foundation has donated a specialised trike to Faith, which has given her and her family a life-changing level of freedom they never thought possible.

The Argus: Pupils at Chailey Heritage School benefit significantly from the opportunity to be out of their wheelchairs and using their legs and arms. Trikes and walkers provide pupils with the physical support essential to be able stay upright, while allowing them to explore the possibility of using stepping skills.Pupils at Chailey Heritage School benefit significantly from the opportunity to be out of their wheelchairs and using their legs and arms. Trikes and walkers provide pupils with the physical support essential to be able stay upright, while allowing them to explore the possibility of using stepping skills. (Image: Peter Lindsey)

Faith's mother Vicki, 31, who lives in Haywards Heath, said: "We as a family never thought that Faith would have the freedom that this specialist equipment has given her.

"Her communication is unique and personal to her because of her disability but what she has achieved we believe we could not get anywhere else.”

Faith attends Chailey Heritage, in North Chailey, near Lewes, which cares for young people with complex neurological disabilities.

"Her face when she used the trike for the first time, well I will never get that out of my head," said Vicki.

"She was so excited. She held on to the handlebars and started ringing the bell.

"She is able to bring the trike home which means we can all go out as a family on our bikes - something we never thought would be possible.

"For us as a family, that is priceless."

Chailey Heritage is urging the public to support its Big Give 2022 challenge, with a goal to raise £10,000 in public donations. If this target is reached, the figure will be doubled and the charity will have £20,000 to spend on specialist walkers and trikes to help other children like Faith get out of their wheelchairs.

Will Folkes, head of fundraising at Chailey Heritage, is urging the public to support The Big Give 2022. He said: "Faith's story is just one example why we do what we do here.

"We have made a real difference to the lives of Faith and her family - and that's why we are urging everyone to support The Big Give this year.

"It is really important that we hit the £10,000 target, but it is also very important to stress that only donations made between noon on Tuesday and noon on the following Tuesday will benefit from the match funding."

The Argus: Three-year-old faith was born with a brain injury and is both visually and hearing impaired.Three-year-old faith was born with a brain injury and is both visually and hearing impaired. (Image: Peter Lindsey)

The Big Give is a national annual fundraising campaign where donations by charities are doubled. 

To donate to Chailey Heritage between November 29 and December 6 go to

https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/ and search for Chailey Heritage Foundation.