Rub-a-dub-dub, Hayley's in the tub!

Hayley Okines, 8, has Progeria, or Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome.

Progeria is a genetic condition with striking features resembling premature ageing.

A 10 year old sufferer will have similar respiratory, cardiovascular and arthritic conditions to that of an 80 year old.

One of the great enjoyments of Hayley's life is a twice-weekly trip to the Conquest Hospital hydrotherapy pool. Hydrotherapy promotes relaxation, relieves pain, assists movement and enables exercise.

The water treatments can help prevent Hayley's arthritis from getting worse and, just as importantly for a little girl, it is also great fun.

Hayley was the subject of a documentary shown on British television and on the worldwide Discovery Channel and in the film she is seen enjoying the hydrotherapy treatment. A woman in the Netherlands, who had the power to make Hayley's life a little easier and a lot more fun, heard about the programme and decided to take action.

Christina Edwards is the managing director of AquaGarde, a Dutch company which manufactures a unique, low-chemical water purifier used in hottubs. Herself pregnant and moved by Hayley's story, Mrs Edwards set about talking to some AquaGarde dealers in the UK to help her present Hayley with a hottub of her own.

On Monday, Hayley received from Mrs Edwards and the AquaGarde dealers an enormous, gift-wrapped surprise at her home in Meadow Crescent, Sidley - superb hottub in which Hayley can enjoy a relaxing hydrotherapy session not just twice a week in hospital but whenever she feels like it, at home.

Hayley's father Mark, who has been privy to the secret planning of the present, said: "We know for a fact that the most beneficial treatments Hayley has is the hydrotherapy as it keeps her muscles and joints moving, so this gift is going to be wonderful. Also she gets very dry skin and because the AquaGarde solution contains only traces of chlorine it will mean we will not have to use so many moisturisers on her."

He is also relieved that the solution is the simplest way of keeping the water and pipes clean.

"I've never had a hottub before and I was a bit worried about keeping the water pure and getting the chlorine and all the chemicals right.

"But they are giving us a lifetime's supply of AquaGarde and that does it all in one easy go, so we won't even have to worry about that!"