DIY SOS to help 11-year-old Telford cancer patient Matthew Cooper return home

Bosses at the BBC makeover show are expected to lend a hand to 11-year-old Matthew Cooper and his family by helping with renovations at their home in Trench, Telford.

The news was revealed in a post on Facebook by July Henry, headmistress at Wrockwardine Wood Junior School where Matthew was a pupil. The school and the wider community has managed to raise more than £52,000 towards renovating Matthew's home for when he is well enough to be discharged from hospital.

Matthew has been cared for at Birmingham Children's Hospital since August last year after he was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer.

After more than a year in hospital, Matthew has finished his chemotherapy and will be able to return home once renovations to his house are complete.

Mrs Henry said she believed the DIY SOS team, led by presenter Nick Knowles, would come to Telford in February to finally make it suitable for Matthew to return.

She said: "This news is what we have all been hoping for and is down to the persuasive skills of our children and the fantastic response from the community.

"DIY SOS pick eight people a series to help, from over 1,000 applications and have told me that they were very much convinced that Matthew was deserving of their help because of the support of his local community already."

Though the money raised will no longer be solely needed for the renovations to the home, some will go to those people who cannot provide goods or services for free.

Mrs Henry said Matthew's parents, Sue and Leigh, would also like to pay for an intensive physiotherapy programme for him and other pieces of equipment that will help strengthen his limbs in the hope that one day he may be able to leave his wheelchair behind.

She said: "But for now, let's all celebrate the fantastic news and please congratulate yourselves and your children for what you have achieved for that family.

"Wrockwardine Wood Junior School is a very special place, full of, and supported by, some very special people and I am immensely proud to be the headteacher of it."

The family was given planning permission to adapt its home earlier this year.

A number of volunteers have already put their names forward to help with the renovation.

This included architect Neil Pennell who unveiled plans to remodel the family's home back in April.

Changes to Matthew's home will include a wet room and bedroom, including a movable hoist attached to the ceiling to move Matthew from his bed to other areas of his house.

This will all have to be on the ground floor.

After hearing of his illness, friends started an appeal page on Facebook called Making a difference for Matthew and a Go Fund Me page which can be found under the name "Bring Matt home fund".