A DISABLED Runcorn schoolgirl with an infectious smile urgently needs specialist walking equipment.

Rebecca Penney lives with her grandparents Denise Sothern, 51, and her husband David, 63.

The eight-year-old has a complex condition including cerebral palsy, epilepsy and hydrocephalus.

Specialists at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital have recommended she is kept mobile to help reduce hip pain and prevent further health problems developing.

Newlife, the charity for disabled children, launched an appeal to raise £2,373 for a walking frame to give her independence.

Generous fundraisers donated £735 but £1,638 is still needed to reach the target.

Denise, from Hallwood Park, said: “She is a happy little girl. With her disabilities you’d expect her to complain but she never does.

“She is always smiling. She is a little treasure.”

At present she has to rely on her family to push her around in a special-needs buggy.

“She is heavy and tall,” said mum-of-three Denise. “She is 4ft 7ins tall and weighs four stone seven.

“She watches other children playing and you can see the frustration in her face not understanding why she can’t join in.”

The family bought Rebecca’s first walking frame themselves and when she outgrew this Newlife stepped in three years ago with a replacement.

Now she is too big for this walker and the family have returned it to be used in the charity’s innovative equipment recycling service.

Denise added: “A new walking frame is something that Rebecca would use both at home and at school to support muscle development, improve her head and trunk control and aid digestion – all of which will help maintain her health and prevent new problems occurring.

“It is Rebecca’s only opportunity to get around independently and join in with class activities and play with the children where we live.”

Newlife’s head of charity operations Stephen Morgan said: “Rebecca’s family aren’t asking for luxury equipment – she just needs a walking frame so she can stretch her muscles and help reduce the chronic pain that she has to deal with on a daily basis.

“If at the same time it means she can join in more fun play, that is a wonderful bonus.”

To donate visit newlifecharity.co.uk/cheshire.

Newlife is the UK’s largest charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness and has supported 465 under 19s in Cheshire.