The mother of a blind toddler has launched a fundraising appeal to pay for treatment in Thailand that will enable him to finally see the world.

Robyn Gough, 23, from Deal, needs to raise £25,000 to take 23-month-old Freddie Penny to Bangkok for stem cell therapy.

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

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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 said: “It will be life-changing for him.

“It’s the only option available. It’s not going to cure his condition but there’s nothing stopping us from trying to give him a better life.

“It’s the one chance he’s got to see the world and I want to give it to him.”

VIDEO: Appeal launched to help restore Freddie's sight

Freddie was three months old when his mother noticed a lack of development.

She said: “I noticed his pupils weren’t dilated and something wasn’t right.

“If you hold something in front of a baby’s face, most of them will look at it. Freddie didn’t do that.”

At four months old, tests confirmed there were issues with his optic nerve.

Further investigations a month later at Great Ormond Street, confirmed Freddie had septo-optic dysplasia (SOD).

But there was still hope. Freddie underwent a diagnostic test with results which would prove to be life-changing.

Miss Gough said: “He didn’t respond to anything in the test other than when being in a pitch black room and a light, as bright as a floodlight, was shone within centimetres of his face.

“There was a reaction from his optic nerve to his brain which showed us that there was a connection.”

In August this year, Miss Gough, a former Sandwich Technology pupil, decided to Google ‘cures for SOD’. She came across globalstemcells.com and a hospital called Unique Access, in Bangkok, Thailand, which she continued to research.

She said: “I spoke over the phone to them and explained Freddie’s condition and sent them his results.

“The doctor reviewed them and said based on his condition and others they have treated, they’re confident that stem cell treatment would be successful.”

It involves a 14-day therapy course involving daily injections and stimulation of the cells behind Freddie’s eyes.

She said: “They told me they couldn’t promise full vision but they’re confident that he’ll gain a level of vision.

“I just want Freddie to be as independent as he can be.

“Even if he gains enough vision to be able to tell the difference between day and night, it would be amazing.”

A justgiving page has already collected £1,455 in donations.

She has the full support of her mum and Freddie’s nan, Jenny Gough, who said: “It would just be lovely for him to be able to see his mum for the first time and enjoy the world he lives in.”

Friends and family have already started to rally round with an event at The Farrier pub in Deal planned for Saturday, November 19. There will be food, a raffle and live music throughout the afternoon and evening.

Miss Gough hopes to have raised the sum by July 2017.