A three-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has completed the equivalent of two marathons to raise money for charity.

Vincent Simester, from Teynham, near Sittingbourne, walked a total of 56 miles over 29 days as part of the Marvel superheroes series ‘At Home’ challenge - a disability event which encourages people to set their own challenges and complete them however they want, when they want.

Since July 17 Vincent has donned a blue cape on his walks around his village, and his mother, Lisa, said she was “incredibly proud” of him.

The youngster was born prematurely at Margate’s Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) at 33 weeks, weighing a tiny 4lb 10oz.

He spent the first 17 days of his life in the hospital’s special care baby unit (SCBU).

Lisa, 38, said: “We found out late that Vincent had cerebral palsy after months of being palmed off because he was premature. We ended up paying privately, during the pandemic, to see a paediatrician.

"I knew there was something wrong, because he wasn’t reaching his milestones and he still wasn’t able to walk when he started nursery last July, aged two.”

Vincent was diagnosed with the brain disorder periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) last September, and cerebral palsy a month later.

“Up to October, he still wasn’t walking,” Lisa said. “But now, with hard work and help from a physiotherapist, he can walk with aids and also unaided. He’s an absolute star, he takes it all in his stride and never complains.”

Vincent has so far raised more than £800 with the walking challenge, which will be distributed between the SCBU at the QEQM, his pre-school, Stepping Stones in Lynsted, and The Thomas Fryer Campaign, to help a family friend from Faversham with a life-limiting brain condition .

Lisa said: “We’re fundraising so people can see Vincent as a normal boy, a cheeky chappy, living a normal life despite his disability – we want people to look past that.”

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