Brighton school's turkey run raises cash for little Loui

The students hit their £3,000 target not only from the turkey run but also by carol singing in Patcham Village.

The money will go towards life-changing surgery for three-year-old Loui Herriott whose mum Karly Herriott was a pupil at Patcham.

She said: “I think it’s really lovely for my old school to be taking on something like this. They must get requests all the time and different things they could be raising money for, so we are really touched by all their generosity. It’s amazing really.”

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Loui was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, which affects the way bones in the face develop. Because of his receded jaw, he has to eat and drink through a tube in his neck which goes directly to his stomach.

The tube, or tracheostomy, has to be cleared every 10 to 30 minutes 24 hours a day. It bypasses his voicebox, so Loui is unable to speak but communicates using British Sign Language.

He also has no middle or outer ears so has to have two hearing aids clamped to bones in his head.

Loui’s parents, Karly Herriott, 30, and Luke Heath, 31, want to take their son to the States for an operation that will enable him to live without a tracheostomy. The complex and expensive operation is not available on the NHS.

The surgery in the States would rebuild Loui’s jaw and hopefully remove the tracheostomy, which would mean he could eat, drink and speak unaided. His parents have already raised more than £40,000 towards the estimated £214,000 cost of the operation.

Mum Karly said although Loui has already had numerous operations and looks different from other children, beneath it all he is just like any other little boy: “We feel really blessed with the personality he’s got. He’s really sunny, he’s really caring. Don’t get me wrong, he can be cheeky, really cheeky, but that almost makes him more loveable in a way.

“He’s outgoing and he’s had to learn to walk into parks and not be affected by horrible comments and things and just get on with it. But as well as being really confident, he has a sensitive side, so we feel he’s got a really nice balance.”

Patcham High School head teacher, John McKee, said: “Karly is one of our ex-students. She is an amazing Mum and we are proud and privileged to have met her and Loui.

“We’re raising money for Loui this Christmas to help him do some of the ordinary things that all three-year-olds should be able to do.”

To find out more and to donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/patchamhighschool-louilegend