RESIDENTS are being urged to put their dancing shoes on and help raise cash to pay for specialist treatment for a little boy.

Four-year-old Tiago Dos Santos has cerebral palsy and needs extra equipment and specialist therapy to help him lead as near a normal life as possible.

The St John’s School pupil, whose 39-year-old father, Paulo, died in a road crash on the A415, near Ducklington, in 2006, lives with his mum Ali, in Cope Road, Banbury.

Each year, to help pay for extra treatment for Tiago, including equipment, specialist therapy at London’s Bobath Centre and extra fortnightly physiotherapy, family and friends organise a host of fundraising events.

The first takes place later this month, a barn dance at General Foods Social Club, Spiceball Park Road, Banbury, on Saturday, March 26, from 8pm to midnight.

After Mr Dos Santos died, the couple’s friends set up Tiago and Ali’s Fund to help support Tiago.

Mrs Dos Santos, 40, said the fund meant Tiago could get specialist treatment that would effectively prevent the youngster from becoming deformed by his condition.

She said: “Tiago’s dad died when he was five months old and that’s the reason our friends set up the Tiago and Ali Fund. The idea was to fundraise to help pay for things that he needs.

“It could be bits of equipment, treatment or if needed, respite care.

“The fund is very important now that I’m a single parent working part-time. It just gives me that peace of mind knowing that Tiago will get the best possible treatment and I don’t have to worry where am I going to get the money from.

“He’s very bright. He’s above average, but trapped in a body where he cannot communicate and can’t get out of his wheelchair and walk.”

Tiago suffered complications at birth and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at ten months old.

His father died in a collision with a double-decker bus, just eight days after doctors told the couple there was a possibility Tiago had the condition, in December 2006. It was confirmed the following April.

Tiago can’t walk or sit unaided and uses a special computer to communicate, similar to the one used by physicist Stephen Hawking.

One of the organisers, friend Christina Ben-Bello, of Waltham Gardens, Banbury, whose son Harley, also four, is best friends with Tiago, said: “He’s such a lovely little boy.”

For tickets, which include a fish and chip supper, call Mrs Ben-Bello on 07800 838869 or email tiagoandalisfund@ gmail. com