A UNIQUE Oxfordshire physiotherapy centre for children is defying the recession to cope with demand from home and abroad.

The Footsteps Centre in Warborough, near Wallingford, is the only venue outside of Poland to offer brain-injured children treatment with a revolutionary system of elastic ropes called the ‘Spider’.

The treatment, which has already enabled many children to stand and even walk with sticks, is so popular it is nearly fully booked for 2009, with many additional bookings for 2010.

Families come from across the county, the UK and even from abroad.

But founder Pippa Hoyer Millar wants to offer it to even more children, including those whose parents cannot afford to pay, and says she has been amazed by the generosity of local people and businesses who have thrown their weight – and their cash – behind an ambitious fundraising campaign.

Mrs Hoyer Millar said: “No matter how much we try to keep the costs down, not all families can afford private physio and that is why we set up the Footsteps Foundation six months ago, to help more of these special children.

“A lot of charities are reporting difficulties with fundraising in the current economic climate, but in the last six months since it was set up, the foundation has already raised more than £55,000.

“The support we are getting locally has been amazing.

“We have been helped by everyone from Hadden Hill Golf Club to Moreton Boxing Club, Harley Davidson to Warborough WI.

“And last week we received an £18,000 cheque from a local person, who wants to remain anonymous.

“We have five companies who have chosen us as their charity for the year – we feel so grateful.

“But our target is £500,000 and every single penny is going towards helping children whose families cannot get the physiotherapy they need without going privately for it. So we need as much help as we can get.”

For more information on the work of Footsteps and fundraising for the charity call 01865 400895.

Oscar Scott Towers, five, from Wheatley, has seen his life change dramatically since he started treatment at the centre.

Born with a catalogue of physical and neurological conditions, he has already endured 13 general anaesthetics, attended 700 medical appointments and had major operations on his heart, cleft palate and leg. Doctors warned his parents he may never walk.

Oscar’s mother Hazel Scott Towers said: “In the space of a few sessions at Footsteps in the Spider, Oscar was able to kick a ball, step on to a step, bend down to the floor, hold himself in the crawling position, weight-bear and much more.

“Being in the Spider gives him independence and we now have hope for the future.”