Norwich MP Chloe Smith asks people to help Thorpe family

Grace Howes was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type one - a severe form of muscle weakness which can affect a child's body control - when she was just nine months old.

Her family, Mark and Rebecca Howes, set up a JustGiving page with a target of £25,000 in order to give Grace a better quality of life by installing a hydro-therapy pool at their bungalow in Thorpe St Andrew.

Grace Howes' family are raising funds for a hydrotherapy pool after the four-year-old was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (Image: Luke Howes)

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With £13,192 having already been raised, the family reached out to their MP to help get the backing of the Fine City.

Chloe Smith has put faith in city folk's generosity to help saying: "I know people in Norwich will be characteristically generous and want to help.

Two-year-old Annie Howes with her sister, four-year-old Grace Howes (Image: Luke Howes)

"Little Grace's family are doing all they can and I hope her story will inspire more support."

Luke Howes, 34, added: "My wife Rebecca contacted Chloe and we're very grateful for her support, along with everyone else who has donated so far.

"To have already reached the halfway point so quickly is amazing and we just have to keep going in order to reach our final target for Grace.

Chloe Smith, backed the characteristically generous people of Norwich to help the Howes family (Image: Parliament)

"But it seems much more achievable now."

Mr Howes recently finished the Ride London 100 event on May 28, a 100-mile ride, with his friends Josh Lincoln and Jonathan Moffat with the family looking at future events.

From left to right: Two-year-old Annie Howes with dad, Luke Howes and mum Rebecca Howes, with four-year-old Grace (Image: Luke Howes)

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"Rebecca works at Nuffield Health and they're doing a four-hour spin-a-thon on July 22 to raise funds," said Mr Howes.

"I'll be taking part in the Three Peaks challenge over September 9 and 10 with my friends to complete it in 24 hours.

"We've got a great chance to reach our goal now and help give Grace the best life possible."

Luke Howes, pictured far right, with his friends Josh Lincoln and Jonathan Moffat who finished Ride London 100, on May 28 to raise funds for Grace (Image: Luke Howes)