15255/3GAZETTE & HERALD: THIS is little Fabian Viles, an innocent child who stands to lose his lifeline a place at special needs pre-school Springboard unless funds can be found to save it.

Fabian, who was born with cerebral palsy, will have his place cut by the cash-strapped pre-school if money is not found quickly.

Today the Gazette and Herald launches its Springboard Appeal, which aims to raise enough cash to rescue Springboard from its misery.

Jane Cross, who runs Springboard, is hoping she will not have to give three-year-old Fabian's parents the news that they desperately don't want to hear, but fears it could be inevitable.

And Fabian is not the only one many other children could also lose out.

The pre-school, based at Frogwell in Chippenham, receives £1,000 a year per child from the Local Education Authority about half the amount needed.

So each year Mrs Cross and a loyal band of volunteers try to raise the £40,000 shortfall in funding.

"Springboard is a lifeline for many families," said Mrs Cross. "For most, it is the first time they have had the opportunity to meet parents in a similar situation and to realise that they are not alone.

"Without the vital running costs being met Springboard will have to drastically reduce the number of children who could attend.

"The support of our local community is incredible, everyone who hears our plight has been so keen to help in any way they can."

Springboard, the only special needs pre-school in North Wiltshire, currently caters for 45 children.

They include youngsters who are blind or deaf, those with cerebral palsy, autism, Down's Syndrome, physical abnormalities and other disabilities.

Fabian was starved of oxygen when he was born, leaving him quadraplegic. His father, Phil, explained: "Mentally he's fine but his brain doesn't control his muscles. He will never be able to walk or sit up on his own."

His parents, who live in Gastard, were told about Springboard by Fabian's physiotherapist two years ago.

"When you're told your child has cerebral palsy your world collapses around you," said Mr Viles, who gave up his job as assistant manager of the One Stop in Sheldon Road, Chippenham, to look after his son.

"It's a massive shock. But the Springboard staff were fantastic. They took the time to sit down and explain everything to us.

"From a parent's point of view our lives would have been a different story without Springboard.

"And for Fabian it's been a lifeline. It gives him a bit of independence and has brought him on leaps and bounds. They really know how to get the best out of him.

"It's no exaggeration to say it would be a disaster if Springboard wasn't there. It would be a huge loss to Fabian and lots of other children."

When Fabian was born at the Royal United Hospital in Bath ten weeks prematurely, he was the little bundle of joy everyone expected.

So nothing could prepare the family, who have four other children, for the shock that came when Fabian was a year old.

"Our world collapsed around us," said Mr Viles, 34. "Doctors had said there was something not quite right with him, but brain scans showed nothing. Then they gave us the bombshell that he had cerebral palsy. We couldn't believe it."

Now Fabian divides his time between the special needs pre-school and ABC Nursery in Corsham.

"Springboard was brilliant from day one," said Mr Viles. "We had other parents to talk to in the same situation as us and we were put in contact with various charities which could help."

It seems Fabian is one of Springboard's many success stories he's hoping to start at Neston School in September.