A CONCERT is being held to raise money to send a severely autistic five-year-old boy to the US for life changing treatment.

Joshua Miller, of Greenway, Bromley, has global developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder, meaning he was unable to use his hands, feel his body, use his eyes together or speak.

However, a three month course of a radical drug-free treatment known as ‘brain balance’ at a clinic in Atlanta before Christmas helped Joshua make huge improvements.

His parents Erika and Trevor are desperate to take him to the clinic again for another six months treatment, but they need to raise £30,000 to cover the costs.

They have organised a concert at El Patio Restaurant in Westmoreland Place, Bromley, on March 17 from 7.30pm, with the performers including TV singer Gari Glaysher, and the Mayor of Bromley Councillor George Taylor also in attendance.

Joshua's mum Erika said: “This treatment can give Joshua and us a normal life, because caring for him takes up all of our life.”

The 37-year-old, who was a nurse before Joshua was born, says he made more progress in the three months at the clinic than with any other therapy in the previous two years.

She said: “Before he could not do anything with his hands at all. Now he can open doors and drawers, put shapes into boxes and draw with help. He is smiling and laughing more, and can now say a few words.

“Before brain balance his two eyes couldn't work together for binocular vision, therefore he was unable to look at books or develop hand eye co-ordination, but now he loves looking at books.

“He responds to his own name now, and is just generally calmer, more co-ordinated and less demanding.”

Mr Miller, a 48-year-old photographer, and his wife had to take out loans and use their life savings to pay for the first course of treatment, with the whole trip costing £16,000.

Mrs Miller said: “We want Joshua to have a normal, happy life, but we can’t afford to pay for six months more treatment, so we would be very grateful for any help."

To book a ticket for the concert, which costs £15, call the restaurant on 020 8466 7799 or go to el-patio.co.uk/bromley

For more information, or to donate to help Joshua go to the clinic, go to recoverfromautism.com To help fundraise call Mrs Miller on 07910 133069 or email her at erikadie@gmail.com