Family of a blind toddler are celebrating after achieving their fundraising target for life-changing treatment.

Robyn Gough, 23, from Deal, launched an East Kent Mercury-backed appeal in October to raise £25,000 to take her son Freddie to Thailand for stem cell therapy.

Thanks to a cheque for more than £6,000 from Boxing Day Dip organisers Deal Icebreakers she has reached the target enabling her to book flights for May and pay the deposit.

She said: “The thought of him being able to see me just makes me want to burst into tears of happiness. I’d be overwhelmed with emotions.”

From pub events to blind football matches, the public backed the two-year-old’s campaign from the beginning, raising the funds much sooner than Miss Gough’s original June 2017 target.

The mum-of-one has thanked the community for its support and for being a part of the first stage of her son’s journey for the gift of sight.

She said: “I’m so overwhelmed by the amount of support Freddie and I have received throughout the last six months. It’s only just sinking in that we’re going.

“I want to say a huge thank-you to my entire family, everyone who has kindly donated and shown support, those who chose Freddie as their charity and especially those who took it upon themselves to host their own event.

“I really am so grateful for all your support.”

Freddie has septo-optic dysplasia and part of the condition means his optic nerves are undeveloped, causing blindness.

The technology to restore his sight is not available in the UK but has been available in Thailand for 10 years.

The only option is to travel there, at a cost of £25,000.

Miss Gough has paid a deposit for the therapy and already booked flights.

She’ll be taking Freddie, herself and her mother Jenny Gough to Bangkok on Friday, May 5, arriving the next day.

Freddie’s treatment will take place over 14 days from May 7 at the Unique Access Hospital.

The course will involve injections and stimulation of the cells behind his eyes.

Miss Gough has already sent doctors the results of Freddie’s MRI scans which they have reviewed and based on his condition and others they have treated, they’re confident that the treatment will be successful.

She said: “I’ve been in weekly contact with the hospital since day one.

"I’ve had constant questions that they’ve been able to answer, even little things like our transfer from the airport to the hospital and where we’ll be staying.”

“I’d love for him to be able to experience what seeing is. I would give anything for that moment to happen.”

They have a family room at The Emporium Tower. Miss Gough’s father Kevin hopes to travel out in the second week.

She said: “They’ve explained how it’s going to work. He’s not just having the injections.

"In between the stem cell therapy they will work with him doing water therapy and physio.

“I’ve asked them how quickly it could work and they said 90% of patients will see a change after the first eight days of receiving the treatment. It could be a big or small difference.

"It’s different in every person.”

She added: “Every patient they’ve taken on has gained vision but at different levels, but I’m keeping an open mind because it might not happen even though I’d like to think it would.

“Even if he can see shades and outlines, it will be an improvement.

"They’ve said the younger the patient the higher the success rate.”

It is hoped the gift of sight will also help Freddie reach his milestones.

She said: “It has helped others children his age want to walk and crawl because they can see in front of them and it gives them something to go for.

“I’d love for him to be able to experience what seeing is. I would give anything for that moment to happen.”