Family rallies round to help crash boy Alfie

Josh Cusick, 15, is taking part in a 3.5km Colour Run this summer to fundraise for Martin House Children's Hospice, near Boston Spa, which took care of his one-year-old brother Alfie following the crash last year.

Alfie's mum, Lisa, was travelling home from her parent's house in Slough on August 16 when she was hit by a HGV on the A1 near Doncaster.

The eight-week-old baby was sat in the back of the Mini Cooper and suffered life-changing injuries.

Doctors told Lisa Spencer and Alfie's dad Darren - her former partner - to prepare for the worst, but he defied the odds and pulled through.

He will require treatment for the rest of his life for Secondary Dystonia - a condition exacerbated by the severe head injuries he suffered in the crash.

Dad Darren Cusick told The Press: "This has ripped the family apart.

"You can imagine being in a 12ft by 12ft hospital room with your partner 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the stress levels were absolutely phenomenal.

"Martin House is a brilliant place for families like us in our situation and are totally run by donations.

"Doctors are very non-committal about Alfie's life expectancy.

"Because he was so young at the time of the accident we don't know what it will be.

"He is definitely going to have a disability, but to what degree we don't know."

Josh's twin sister, Chloe, has also set up her own fundraising page to help turn the family's garden, in Strensall, into a sensory environment to help Alfie's development.

The Colour Run takes place at Stockeld Park, Wetherby, on Sunday, July 23.

To sponsor Josh go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Josh-Cusick?utm_id=13

Chloe's fundraising page can be found at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chloe-cusick

*The 56-year-old HGV driver was sentenced in February after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention.

He was fined £400, £85 in court costs and a £40 victim surcharge, and nine points were added to his driving licence.