When he heard about little Felix, who we met on day one of our Mirror Christmas appeal for Lifelites, pop star Olly Murs was compelled to get in touch
As pop sensation Olly Murs told Mirror Christmas appeal hero Felix Forbes that he was blown away by the youngster playing music with his eyes, his family were overcome with emotion. The star delivered the special message after hearing about Felix, 13, who has rare neurological condition Miller-Dieker Syndrome, cannot walk or talk, and uses clever sensory and assistive technology to play music with his eyes, using a device called an Eyegaze.
He loves to play his favourite tracks alongside his dad, Dan, and their love of music is something that bonds them together. The Troublemaker singer, who shot to fame on the X Factor in 2009, was so moved after seeing a video of Felix and Dan playing music together, that he reached out to record a special Christmas message to the youngster.
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Olly said: “Felix, it’s Olly Murs here mate. Listen, you are so inspiring. Music is so important, to be able to express yourself and bring people together. And the fact that you are able to make music using only your eyes is truly incredible. Honestly, I am blown away. The video of you and your dad was amazing, it was so emotional. It was such an incredible watch. So, I’m sending you all the love this Christmas, I hope you and your family have the best time.”
When Felix and his family were shown the video, it was an incredibly emotional moment for all of them. Dan, 43, told the Mirror: “I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. We were totally shocked and overjoyed to receive the video from Olly – it’s made our Christmas.”
Last week we launched our Mirror Christmas appeal in aid of Lifelites to ‘Unwrap the Magic of Christmas’ for thousands of children like Felix. The campaign aims to raise vital funds for them to experience the wonder of life-changing technology, including the Eyegaze.
When the Mirror reached out to Olly, he wholeheartedly threw support behind what is such a brilliant cause. Felix, Dan, and mum Alex, 44, gathered at Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice in South Wales, where Felix and his family receive support – and we surprised them with the video.
The whole family were there, including Felix’s sisters, Lottie, 10, and Maggie, five. They were expecting to see the annual hospice pantomime. On arrival they were taken into the hospice family room by Katie Simmons, Children’s Rights and Education Practitioner at Tŷ Hafan and the video from Olly Murs was played on the Lifelites Tilt and Touch Table big screen.
As the Heart Skips A Beat hitmaker, 41, appeared on the screen saying: “I hope to see your talent in person next year. I’m sending you all the love in the world. Have a super Christmas and I’ll see you soon,” the family were overcome with emotion and total surprise. Dan said; “Actual Olly Murs, I can’t believe it, how amazing that Olly Murs has reached out to Felix. Felix and I love playing pop and rock tracks so to get Olly Murs sending a personal message was out of this world. He’s a superstar! We were all so excited, Alex was emotional as well as Felix’s sisters.”
Olly then went on to offer his support for the Mirror Christmas appeal and the incredible work done by Lifelites. Lifelites currently reach 15,000 children with life-limiting conditions. The charity provides seriously ill and disabled children the chance to play, create and communicate, using the power of assistive and sensory technology. This includes the iClick Switches, Magic Carpet, PODS sensory tent, Eyegaze and Cosmo Switches.
There are still 85,000 children without access to Lifelites. By donating to our appeal, Mirror readers can help thousands more receive this life-changing technology, enhancing the life of a seriously ill or disabled child and help them make the most of the precious moments they have with their families.
Alex, who was visibly moved by the video from Olly Murs, said: “For Olly to spend time thinking of Felix is just incredible, it’s so kind of him and the whole family is just so blown away by it. He is a musician but plays music with his hands and sings but he was genuinely moved that Felix was playing music with his eyes, that was plain to see.
“Felix gets so much out of playing songs with his dad, so it meant the world that Olly reached out. To hear him say Felix’s name was amazing. He’s now a dad himself so I know when you become a parent things do affect you much more and it was clear Felix’s story and video had made him emotional.”
Felix was introduced to the Eyegaze and Soundbeam, which enables users to play musical sounds, at the age of seven and the tech has turned his life around. He was diagnosed at just a few months old and the family were told he would not live past infancy. However he has defied the odds to become a teenager.
The special message from Olly Murs is a brilliant end to what had been a tough year for the family as this time last year Felix had been very ill. His parents brought him to Tŷ Hafan for end of life care, but in an incredible turn of events, the youngster rallied and was allowed home in time for Christmas. Alex said: “Last November Felix became very unwell and was rushed into hospital, doctors then told us he wouldn’t make it through the night but so we decided to take him to Tŷ Hafan but as soon as he reached the hospice, where he has been supported since he was a baby, everything changed and he rallied and recovered.
“Despite everything he is a happy boy who loves to play games and music using the Lifelites technology, it gives him a sense of connection.” At the end of January, Felix and his family got to meet the Princess of Wales, who was announced as a patron for the hospice, and he stole her heart. Dan said: “After everything it’s an amazing end to the year. Who’d have thought that a year on things could be so different.”
The Mirror thanks Olly Murs for his incredible contribution to our Christmas appeal. Olly says: “I was blown away seeing Felix playing songs with his dad, just by using his eyes. What an amazing young man he is. This tech is incredible and for it to allow kids like Felix to be part of the music they love is so cool. Music should be for everyone, regardless of abilities, so this appeal for Lifelites is really important and I hope everyone will get involved. I look forward to seeing Felix playing more songs next year.”
Rob Lightfoot, CEO of Lifelites, said: “Music brings people together, and Lifelites technology makes the joy of music accessible for Felix. It’s incredible that Olly Murs has seen Felix and Dan playing and reached out with this message. As someone who has built a career through music, and as a father, Olly understands how important it is to give all children the chance to express themselves.’
Unwrap the magic of Christmas
Donate today and unwrap the Magic of Christmas for seriously ill children. Donations from Mirror readers will be used to provide seriously ill children access to life-changing technology that will enable them to play, communicate and have fun in ways that would otherwise be impossible.
- Donate online HERE
- Text MIRROR to 70085 to give £10. To donate without receiving further updates, text MIRRORNOINFO. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from Lifelites.
- Donate by post: Send cheques made payable to Lifelites to Lifelites, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
