PARENTS of a two-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer are hoping their daughter can prove doctors wrong by learning to walk and talk.

Kathryn Whittle and Ian Laithwaite, of Greenbank, Barnoldswick, aim to raise £5,000 so Elle-May, who was born 16 weeks premature, and weighing just 1lb 5oz, can attend a specialist Chance Institute, Cardiff.

The centre, run by Hungarians, caters for children like Elle-May, who suffer from cerebral palsy.

They use ground-breaking techniques to help sufferers progress and even help them to walk and talk.

Kathryn, 23, who also has six-month-old Earnna, has seen the results of attending the centre first hand.

She said: "My friend has a little boy, Jamie, who has been and he has come on in leaps and bounds. He can now say things and remembers things from the past which he couldn't do before. The transformation has been amazing." Kathryn is desperate to raise the money to pay for the six-week course in hopes of giving Elle-May a better quality of life. She added: "Elle-May is very frustrated because she is extremely intelligent and wants to be able to walk and talk. She would be so much happier if she could do these things which I am almost certain she would be able to do if she was given a chance to attend the centre."

Elle-May, who attends Rainbows Special Nursery in Barrowford and Rainbow House in Chorley two days a week also suffers from chronic lung disease.

Her proud mum added: "Elle-May is a little treasure. We didn't know if she would make it but she did and we love her to bits. It would be a dream to send her to the internationally renowned centre in the hope that they could provide miracles."

Kathryn has sent out letters to local businesses in the area asking for sponsorship donations. If anybody would like to help they should contact her on 07985 363179.