A LIVE auction of gifts from businesses in Swindon will give a boost to a campaign to help a boy smile again.

Samuel May set up Bring Back Oliver’s Smile to raise money for six-year-old Oliver Johnson, from Oxford, to help him recover the use of his muscles after he suffered a massive seizure in 2016.

Oliver was diagnosed with acute necrotising encephalitis of childhood, a rare type of inflammation in the brain causing severe brain damage, and is receiving oxygen therapy from home to help his recovery, but the treatment costs around £800 a month.

Now, a number of businesses from Swindon have pledged to put in prizes for a live auction on Facebook arranged by Samuel, due to take place on November 1 at 7pm.

Samuel spoke to the Adver about his latest fundraising efforts to help Oliver’s parents see their son smile again.

“The businesses were quite taken back by the story and they’ve donated some quite good prizes,” he said.

“It will cover the monthly costs of the oxygen therapy chamber. His improvement is just incredible, so his parents are going to carry on going with it.

“He can sit himself up using his arms, and it’s all down to the chamber. He’s looking at people more as well, and responds to you when you say his name. But obviously there’s still a long way to go.

“I’m just hoping now that people can support us at the next few events. I’ve had so many messages from his parents that they were so happy with what we’ve been doing. We’ll just carry on going until he’s in the right place.”

Since the family have been using the oxygen therapy chamber Oliver’s trips to hospital have reduced from going weekly to once every few months.

The auction includes treatments from P3 Beauty Treatments, a box of 12 luxury cupcakes from Swindon-baker Torte Di Maria, a pamper party for six people from The Bodyshop, collectable figurine from the Son of Zorn, from The Incredible Comic Book Shop, and family watch tickets from Swindon Town FC to watch the Newport game on December 8, and the Swindon Wildcats to a home game this season.

This is the second live auction that Samuel has organised for the campaign, as well doing a 25k charity walk in the summer, and losing more than half a stone for ‘Stoptember’.

The campaign has also managed to gather the backing of Swindon-born celebrity trainer Matt Fiddes.

Oliver and his parents will join for a bag packing event in Tesco on Ocotal Way on October 21.