FORGET our plan to change little Joe Smith's life in seven days - thanks to you we reached our appeal target yesterday in a staggering TWO HOURS.

Now the four-and-a-half-year-old will soon have the computer he needs to help him communicate with the outside world.

And it's all thanks to the generosity of the readers of This Is Oxfordshire and the Oxford Mail.

Within minutes of yesterday's early editions of the newspaper hitting the streets, the phones started ringing with promises of cash. And it took just two hours to smash the appeal target that we had set ourselves seven days to reach. Last night the fund total stood at a magnificent £2,111. Oxford Mail editor Patrick Fleming said: "We were overwhelmed at the response. People were on the phone just as soon as they saw the paper. It is a great tribute to the community that so many people feel touched to help this family.''

Many were moved to tears by our story of the daily struggles faced by Joe and his family, of Greater Leys, Oxford. Donations ranged from £5 to £800. Joe's parents Wendy and Peter admitted they were "over the moon''.

Wendy said: "It has all happened so quickly. This really is a major step forward for Joe's education and development. We would like to thank everybody who gave money and the Oxford Mail for all its help." Paralysed and unable to speak, Joe's only communication with the outside world is by blinking and rolling his eyes. His family have already spent about £10,000 on special equipment.

ALTHOUGH we've already raised the £1,000 Joe and his family need, you may still like to help. To make a donation, please send a cheque made payable to: Aidis Trust for Joe Smith and send it to Aidis Trust, 1 Albany Park, Cabot Lane, Poole, Dorset. BH17 7BX.

How a computer changed my daughter's life

Story date: Tuesday 08 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.