A young man suffering from congenital heart failure will realise his dream of visiting Berwick-upon-Tweed with a little help from the Chronicle.
Joseph Barker, 22, was born with part of his heart back-to-front and is virtually housebound in his Wombwell home due to mobility problems and poor health associated with very poor circulation.
Mum Vicki, 45, is his primary carer and as such is only able to work part-time, meaning their only chance of a normal life is for Joseph to receive a heart transplant.
He is at constant risk of organ failure and will be assessed for the transplant list at Newcastle Freeman Hospital, where he is an outpatient, next month.
But, working with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Visit Northumberland and holiday home owner Martin Colam, the Chronicle has arranged a short break for the family at the five-star 'Composers at Woodlands' cottages this month with £200 spending money courtesy of Barnsley Rotary Club.
Joseph experienced a cardiac arrest when he was only 18 months old as a result of a catalogue of heart defects. He has been drug-dependent all his life and has had numerous operations throughout his life to improve his condition.
The lack of oxygen in his blood also means he has trouble going up and down stairs and cannot walk far without needing a wheelchair, meaning his social life is severely limited and he rarely leaves his bedroom.
Joseph said he has visited Berwick twice before as a child with his grandparents and had always been taken by the town so was delighted he finally had the chance to visit again.
He said: "It's so beautiful up there, with the castles and the river, and I've never really had the chance to do the kind of things normal teenagers do so it means a lot to me."
• Martin Colam is offering readers quoting the Barnsley Chronicle a 15 per cent discount on short breaks at the Composers at Woodlands during September and October. Call Martin on 01289 332599 for details. More information on the holiday cottages may be found at www.composers-woodlands.co.uk
