Relatives of a disabled girl are celebrating after hitting a fundraising target – which now means she can sit at the family dinner table for the very first time.

Ellie Thorley, five, has cerebral palsy, which means that she has no control of her body. She is also profoundly deaf, needs to use a wheelchair and suffers from chronic lung disease.

Her condition also means she can’t sit at the same table as her family, and is instead forced to sit in her wheelchair or use a special medical seat.

But all that is about to change after the family have reached a £600 goal so they can buy a ‘P’ Pod – a padded seat which will allow Ellie to sit unaided and in comfort for the first time.

And after The Express shared the family’s story oline last week, a further £200 has been raised so they can also purchase the special wheels for the chair.

Ellie’s mum, Charlotte Rowley, 30, said: “Ellie has a smile that could melt anybody’s heart. She has no control over any body part, yet she’s the happiest, most courageous little girl you will ever meet.

“Ellie’s auntie, Kelly Dobson, had her birthday recently and asked for donations instead of birthday gifts. She set up a Justgiving page and within 18 hours we had already hit the £600 target.

“The response was overwhelming – friends, family, and strangers have been lovely enough to donate. Also, my local gym, Fitness4all in Bollington, sent out an email with the link, which made the amount shoot up.

“And then we raised a further £200 after The Express posted the story which was incredible. Donations had stopped coming in and we didn’t think we would be able to get the wheels as well. The community spirit of everyone rallying round is overwhelming.”

Ellie lives on Greenfield Road, Bollington, with mum Charlotte and dad Chris – who are her full time carers – sister Abigail, 11, and three-year-old brother, Dexter.

She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was nine months old after being born prematurely at 26 weeks.

Charlotte added: “Getting the new seat will mean she can sit down and relax with the family. It is going to change our lives. And now we can get the wheels Ellie will be much more involved. She has no independence and I do everything for her. But I have learned a lot from Ellie, she is just so happy and smiles all the time.

“Seeing that after all she has been through is inspiring.”