Dad Frederik van Niekerk is getting ready to pound the streets past some of London’s best known landmarks to help deaf children access therapy that has changed his little boy’s life.

Nicolas, three, was diagnosed as profoundly deaf soon after he was born in April 2020 and received cochlear implants just before his first birthday.

Fred, from Swindon, said: “From those early days after diagnosis when we had all kinds of fears for Nicolas and his future we have been hugely supported by professionals and are so lucky that we have a therapist currently completing auditory verbal therapy training provided through our local cochlear implant centre – West of England Hearing Implant Programme in Bristol.

“But this is not the case for so many families. I just wanted to give back and help more families like us have access to this amazing therapy which gives deaf children the chance to reach their full potential in life.”

Two years after being given implants Nicolas is being helped to maximise them to learn to listen and develop his speaking skills so he can have the same opportunities in life as his hearing peers.

It was seeing the progress he’s made that made Fred want to help more families with deaf children.

On April 2 he takes on the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise money for charity Auditory Verbal UK, which supports deaf babies and children learn to listen and speak through its specialist early intervention family-centred programme.

He said: “The training is going OK, balancing this with work and family life it’s a bit tricky but I’m really looking forward to it and hope I can reach my fundraising target.”

The therapy helps deaf children process the sound they receive from hearing technology, like hearing aids and cochlear implants, and to develop language so they can learn to talk like their hearing friends.

Nicolas has been given his therapy close to home but many families are not so fortunate. At present, 92 per cent of deaf children who could benefit are unable to access it because there are only 27 therapists in the UK.

The charity believes all deaf children should have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers. Some deaf children will learn British Sign Language, some will learn to talk, and some will use both. But most of the public do not believe that a child born profoundly deaf could learn to speak as well as a hearing child.

A YouGov survey commissioned by the charity, revealed that 40 per cent of adults in the South West had no idea a child born profoundly deaf could learn to speak as well as a hearing child.

AVUK chief executive Anita Grover said: “We are thrilled that Fred will be running to support deaf children like his son, Nicolas. When deaf children have access to early and effective support, they can get an equal start at school and have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers. ”

AVUK relies on trusts, foundations, individuals like Fred and families to be able to deliver its services.

Anyone wanting to help Fred reach his target can find out more at avuk.org/fundraise-for-us