Family's light show raises money for hospital

The family of a two-year-old boy with a rare genetic mutation have been raising money for the children's hospital that treated him by installing a Christmas light show outside their home.

Rory Thorner was resuscitated by paramedics after a seizure at seven months old and doctors at Bristol Children's Hospital later discovered he had a genetic mutation called SCN1A, a gene associated epilepsy.

The family want to give back to the hospital and its charity by creating Rory's "roarsome" dinosaur-themed light show.

Molly Thorner, Rory's mum, said the Grand Appeal - the charity which supports sick babies and children at Bristol Children's Hospital - had acted as a "lifeline" for the family.

Ms Thorner said: "The last 18 months have been a terrifying journey for us as a family.

"Rory is young and doesn't understand a lot of what is happening, but The Grand Appeal has supported us through the hardest time of our lives.

"From the moment we walked through the hospital doors, they've been there.

"Now this Christmas, we're lighting up our home for Rory, and for every child who has to call a hospital home, because every donation helps families like ours feel less alone."

Rory's dad James Thorner said his son's "roarsome" display is based around the two-year-old's love for dinosaurs and will be up until Christmas on Winterborne Road.

He said they wanted to raise awareness of the Grand Appeal after the charity did "wonders" for their family during their time at the hospital.

"We're always looking for a way to give back to them," he said.

"[The hospital staff] are fantastic - they can never do enough to help and they do everything and anything."

The Christmas Dubs team - a community of Volkswagen (VW) vehicle enthusiasts that decorate their vans with tinsel and lights - made a special stop to Rory's display on Wednesday.

The team have travelled across the West to help raise money for the Grand Appeal since 2018, raising more than £85,000 to date. They will be in Weston-super-Mare later.

The Dub team's festive campaign is raising money for The Grand Appeal's Patient Hotel - a purpose-designed facility for Bristol Children's Hospital.

A 12-bed patient hotel will offer patients and their families the chance to stay near Bristol Royal Infirmary without taking up bed when not receiving acute treatment.

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