Keir aims to make a splash with the dolphins

But since starting school last year, Keir, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 11 months old, has started to show behavioural problems. Recently, his parents were told he was showing autistic tendencies.

Now they are hoping that pioneering Dolphin Assisted Therapy will

help him.

"We know it isn't a cure," says Leigh, from Harrogate. "All we want is for him to fulfil his maximum potential. We will do everything we can to do our best for Keir – it is what any parent would do."

Gavin and Leigh believe that Keir suffered cerebral palsy when his twin, Flynn died when Leigh was 36 weeks pregnant.

"I had a routine scan at 36 weeks which showed that Flynn had passed away," explains Leigh. In identical twins, the blood can shift between babies and they fear when Flynn died he took much-needed blood

and, therefore, oxygen from Keir.

When the scan revealed Flynn had died, both babies were delivered by caesarean section. Keir weighed just 5lb 7oz.

It wasn't until he was a few months old that Gavin and Leigh started to fear that he wasn't developing quite as quickly as he should.

"His left side was slouched and we started to see it more and more," says Leigh.

As part of her work, Leigh organises conferences.

"I was researching the type of conferences a particular solicitors hold in Leeds. At the time they were doing a conference on birth and complications. They talked about different things that can happen to a baby and one of the things was cerebral palsy. They listed the symptoms which included when you take their socks off their feet will clench on the carpet.

"I came home that night and took Keir's sock off and saw his foot clench and I knew he had cerebral palsy. We went to the doctor and they referred him to a paediatrician at Harrogate Hospital and it was confirmed."

It was hard for the Percys. Not only were they still grieving for Flynn, they were now grieving for Keir and the future they had hoped he would have.

"Despite all this, we feel incredibly lucky," says Leigh. "It has taken a few years for us to come round to that way of thinking. But Keir walks and talks and has a great sense of humour. He goes to mainstream school and is a happy and tremendously loving little boy. When I get down about things, I just remember that. It has been hard on Drew and we do try to spend special time with him."

Further tests have revealed that part of Keir's brain has died, but Leigh and Gavin are determined that their son can be helped.

"It's like an accident blocking the motorway; you find an alternative route. And that's what we need to do to help Keir."

They have tried alternative therapies to try to encourage Keir's development, including Brain Wave, but they now feel that he needs more

to take him on to the next stage.

"Having researched extensively, we have found a therapy based in Grand Cayman which effectively treats similar children with fantastic results. This involves swimming with dolphins and the benefit is to speech and language, gross and fine motor skills, attention, confidence and behaviour."

The family are now fund-raising for the 2,500 needed for the 10-day programme. They hope to fund the rest of the trip – next spring – themselves.

Last weekend, 30 friends and family took part in a sponsored Three Peaks Challenge.

A fund-raising ball is also being held at the Met Hotel in Leeds on Saturday, October 23.

There will be a charity auction including weekend breaks, Leeds United tickets, personal training sessions, a day's labour for decorating-handyman and lots more.

Tickets for the ball are 40 , including a dinner and band.

Visit www.keirpercydatfund.co.uk or call 0792 9548966.

THERAPY IN THE SWIM

The theory and research behind Dolphin Therapy is that children and adults will increase attention if they can earn a meaningful reward.

A behaviour modification procedure is used to reward (interaction with the dolphins) the person for correct cognitive, physical or affective response.

Ideally, the programme "jump starts" the child or adult. DHT complements and reinforces therapies or other procedures used in more traditional helping approaches.

Improving motivation and confidence are critical for success in most things.

DHT gives parents, other care givers and professionals a solid base of knowledge and skills to continue applying programme techniques when the family returns home.