There's no stopping Laurel now as her wish comes true

But for nine-year-old Laurel Reid, life is not so simple.

The youngster has a condition called undiagnosed neuropathy which has left her with very weak muscles, able to communicate only by blinking and shaking her head.

She uses an electric wheelchair, is dependent on a ventilator and requires round-the-clock intensive nursing care at her home in Nichollfield, Newhaven.

Thanks to a grant from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, however, Laurel has for the first time felt the excitement of tearing round the cycle lanes of North Edinburgh on a bike.

The charity chipped in to buy the Braidburn School pupil a Velo Plus bike, specially-designed for wheelchair users by the Dutch firm Van Raam.

It has a platform at the front which her wheelchair can be rolled on to, while her mother Susan or father Allister take to the saddle and provide the power, with the help of a motor for the uphill stretches. Because the wheelchair is at the front of the bike, it gives Laurel all the thrill of feeling the wind in her hair for the first time in her life.

Mrs Reid, said: "I'd seen it on a DVD and I just thought we had to have it as soon as we saw it.

"It looked so fantastic, to be able to get on a bike and be part of the family."

However, with the bike costing around 7000, it would have meant a lot of saving for the family.

Then a social worker based at Rachel House Hospice in Kinross, which supports the family, suggested they ask Make-a-Wish for help and the charity was only too happy to oblige. Laurel has so far had two rides on the bike and absolutely loved it, according to Mrs Reid.

She said: "We walk along the local path a lot and see the locals out on their bikes, and to be one of them is fantastic.

"Grinning from ear to ear is the only way I can describe it the first time she came off the bike. I think she thought the whole speed thing was very funny because she's never moved that fast before."

Mrs Reid said she was delighted that the charity had helped buy the bike so the family could get as much enjoyment from it as possible.

She said: "I think it's a dream come true in a way. It's fantastic to be given an opportunity like that.

"If we'd had to save up for that, it would have taken a very long time and you don't know how long you've got when you've got a child with complex needs."

Joanne Micklewright, head of wishgranting at Make-A-Wish, said: "It is always a pleasure for us to grant a child's wish.

"Hearing about Laurel's joy and the difference that her wish has made to her family is a delight."