A 17-year-old with a crippling skin condition may get the chance to sit in a glider as people and businesses rally round to give him an 18th birthday to remember

Rhys Williams  has epidermolysis bullosa, which leaves him covered in blisters, with the skin on his hands and legs fused together.

It was thought the teenager, who has won the hearts of the people of Bolton, would not reach his first landmark birthday of 10.

The teenager will turn 18 on September 21.

During this troubling time, mum Tanya Williams appealed to the public to send Rhys birthdays cards in order to cheer him up.

Already a Bolton bakery has stepped in to make Rhys an extra special birthday cake, while another business is offering him a chance to ride in a glider.

She said: “It’s been a tough few months after his dad was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.

“So, it’s been hard, but we have tried to make it as normal as possible for the kids, it’s what we do as parents.”

The Bolton News: Rhys Williams

Now, members of the Bowland Forest Gliding Club at Chipping have offered Rhys  opportunity to take a ride in a glider.

Rhys is excited about the glider ride and his family say he loves thrills like this and would welcome the opportunity.

Tanya said: “Rhys will absolutely love it.

“It’s mad, the amount of support we have been getting with this and just shows how much people care and are willing to come together to do something nice.

“When we used to go out people stare and we often get blamed for doing this to him but now that he is out there in the media, people come and say hello and it’s a massive thing for Rhys.

“People are seeing Rhys for Rhys and not his condition.”

The family will also receive a free cake from Bolton based Cake Inn, who were also moved by Rhys’ story and will present the family with a cake of their choice for the big day.

Owner of The Cake Inn, Shabid Ahmad said: “I saw the story on The Bolton News and knew I had to do something for the family.

“They are in a hard situation, and it is a nice thing to do if we can just make him smile for the day.

“I know a cake isn’t a big thing but it’s what we do and it’s what we can give him.

“We want Rhys to have an amazing day and we will do what we can do accommodate them.”

The family are still in search of a venue for the birthday and are appealing to the public to help them make the birthday party dream come true.