In September last year he woke up at his home unable to stand or use his right leg. Neurosurgeons and oncologists found that a cyst had developed above and below his spinal tumour causing pressure on the nerves to his legs and lower body. George has had a further three large spinal surgeries to prevent additional damage to nerves further up his spine. He has now endured 19 operations in total and has also suffered infections and allergic reactions to antibiotics. 

The teen has been working so hard in intensive physiotherapy to try to stand and walk unaided but to date he is now a full-time wheelchair user and adjusting to a very different life. Meanwhile, he has missed a huge amount of important schooling and life in general and needs personal and mobility equipment so he can live as independently as possible.

He currently uses an NHS loan wheelchair, which is cumbersome, heavy and energy sapping. Through a Just Giving campaign “Get George Moving”, his Mum Julie and Dad Ewan, have raised over £10,000 of a £20k target to pay for the installation of a stair-lift and alterations to a bathroom. The stair-lift is now installed but there’s a long waiting list for the alternation to the bathroom to be carried out through the NHS.

But further funding is required for other alterations needed to make his home environment comfortable. George would also benefit greatly from a low energy wheelchair so that he can be more independent both in school and at home without being utterly exhausted and disheartened on a daily basis.

His Mum Julie said: “We are determined to make things happen for George. He’s always been so positive and upbeat. He was Scottish swimming champion two years ago in disability swimming and now he wants to be a wheelchair Olympian. He’s already gone back to swimming training and does wheelchair tennis.”