React Information

React is a small yet dynamic charity providing urgently needed equipment and support to children with potentially life-shortening illnesses.

From specialist medical grade equipment through to domestic items and educational aids; React will consider requests for almost any basic, essential item deemed of benefit to a gravely ill child. In addition, the charity will also support the family unit as a whole, providing much needed hospital travel expenses, React Holidays at one of nine coastal locations and even supporting the family following the sad death of a child, by providing funeral expenses and memorial headstones.

Last year, React provided assistance to 1,545 children and their families. One such family are the Vyas' and here is the story of their son Vinny.

Vinny Vyas, from Heston, has been battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy since he was diagnosed with the life-limiting condition at the age of three.

Despite needing a wheelchair and help with his daily care needs, the 17-year-old has always enjoyed visiting friends, going on holiday and, most of all, watching Arsene Wenger's stars in action.

However, surgery last December to correct a curvature of his spine has left him so frail he requires a specialist hoist every time he needs to be moved, even from his wheelchair to his seat.

His parents were unable to afford the £2,000 portable hoist, without which he would have been virtually housebound, so React stepped in to help.

"This makes such a difference to Vinny's life and we would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone at React and all their supporters," said the teenager's dad, Satish Vyas.

"Without this it would be very difficult to take Vinny anywhere because it would be almost impossible to get him in and out of his wheelchair. It's fair to say Arsenal are Vinny's life and this means he'll be able to continue watching them."