When Margaret Moore's son Sam was born 11 weeks prematurely and suffered two brain haemorrhages, she was told to expect his development to be delayed.

But as he grew older it soon became obvious he was not just behind, but very different. "You could not hold a conversation with him," said Margaret, of Mint Street, Undercliffe.

"He would talk incessantly about trains and cars but he could not tell you what he wanted for his dinner."

At three, Sam, now nine, was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, and dyspraxia.

He began attending a pre-school group for children with special needs next to Bradford's Toy Library at St Luke's Hospital, which is how the family became aware of the vital resource.

Now they are backing the Telegraph & Argus Save Our Play appeal to save the library from closure, which has a new £30,000 target after hitting its initial £12,000 goal in only a month, thanks to T&A readers' generosity.

The registered charity needs the cash for running costs and to replace specialist play equipment for children with disabilities and special needs.

"It would make going to the hospital easier because you knew you could call in and get a toy," said Margaret, who has given the appeal £112 from the accounts of a special needs youth group she used to run with a friend.

Unfortunately, Margaret has had further need to seek help and support from the staff at the toy library as her older son Jamie, 11, was also diagnosed with Asper-ger's Syndrome and dyspraxia when he was seven.

Staff were also a huge support to her when she lost her daughter Beth in 2001. She lived for only eight days after being born 15 weeks prematurely.

And her youngest son, Joe, two, has just been diagnosed with Kawasaki syndrome, a rare illness which causes skin rashes and fever, but which can also cause chronic heart disease.

He has been having heart scans and treatment, which means more trips to hospital, but Margaret, who is also mum to Zara, 15, knows she can always call to see her friends at the toy library for a shoulder to cry on.

"They have been really good," she said. "Jamie especially likes going. I think the book part of the library is really important as well because it is hard to get hold of specialist books and they are expensive as well."