A boy left completely paralysed after an operation two years ago has been raising money for one of the charities which helped him back to health.

Nine-year-old Jake Brightman organised a giant Easter egg prize draw at Harrold Priory Middle School and has raised just over £300 for The Sick Children's Trust at Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Mum Julia said: "Jake's had to grow up very quickly after everything he's been through over the past two years, and now he wanted to do something to help the charity which helped us so much.

"We're very proud of him."

Jake still suffers with an inability to swallow automatically. He has to constantly think about the action, and has to be supervised when he sleeps because of it.

But barring that, today Jake is a healthy nine-year-old, able to run and play like all the other boys and girls in his class at school. And his parents remain positive.

Next week will be the two-year anniversary of when Jake went into hospital for surgery on his throat. It was during this operation he suffered a bleed of the brain stem which left him completely paralysed.

Mrs Brightman said: "Jake was in intensive care for three weeks. First he was sedated, so he was completely unconscious for a few days. And then, when he came to, he was unable to move and unable to communicate.

"It was awful for a parent to go through. We didn't know if he was going to get better and all we could do was wait for time to tell."

But then Jake regained movement in his fingers and, using an alphabet board, was able to start communicating. This was the start on a long road to rehabilitation.

For six months Jake was at Addenbrooke's Hospital, and during that time his family lived there with him in a flat provided by The Sick Children's Trust.

"I didn't come home for the six months Jake was in hospital, and my husband split his time between the hospital and our home in Rushden," said Mrs Brightman.

"Without The Sick Children's Trust I have no idea how we would have managed during that time. It was such a tough period in our lives, and they made it easier."

After leaving hospital, Jake spent a further six months at The Children's Trust Rehabilitation Centre in Tadworth, Surrey – run by a separate charity which Jake raised money for last year.

Mrs Brightman said: "Jake is a seriously determined child. We know how lucky we are to have him, and we know how lucky we were to have The Sick Children's Trust when he was in hospital.

"We want to do all we can to help the charity, and this fundraiser means even more to Jake because for a year he could not eat – he'll be making the most of being able to eat all the Easter eggs he wants this year!"

Jake's form teacher Erica Elvin said: "Jake's fundraising skills are most impressive – he didn't think twice about heading for the staff room to make the teachers cough up!

"I'm proud to have him in my class."

Anyone who wants to donate to The Sick Children's Trust can find out more by visiting www.sickchildrenstrust.org