Shropshire-based charity rooting for its patron in BGT final

One of this year's favourites, Lost Voice Guy, aka Lee Ridley, will perform his stand-up routine live on Sunday, despite a nasty fall earlier this week.

Lee is a patron of national charity The Sequal Trust, based in Ellesmere, which provides technology for those who are non-verbal, have incoherent speech, or who have learning and communication difficulties.

The comedian had the audience in fits of laughter with his routine which he delivered using his iPad as he has been unable to speak for 37 years.

Liz Downes, the charity's manager, said she is hoping Lee's TV appearances will raise the charity's profile.

She said: "We are a charity and we raise funds to provide communication aids to people of all ages with communication problems.

"So Lee is just the chap to be patron as he represents people without speech.

"Lee has been doing the circuits for quite some time, he's up-and-coming.

"We're hoping it will boost our profile as we've got it all over social media and posters on our windows, we're hoping everybody will vote for him.

"He's a great advocate for disabled people everywhere as it just shows what you can do."

The charity has been running since 1969 and in that time also had the late Stephen Hawking as a patron.

Liz added: "Stephen Hawking was just beginning to become famous when he became our patron.

"We also have Nigel Havers and Princess Michael of Kent as patrons.

"Somebody in the late 80s must have mentioned Stephen Hawking and he was approached and agreed to be a patron.

"It was good having his name and he attended galas right at the very beginning when we were based in London, but of late his health was deteriorating."

Last financial year the charity spent almost £300,000 on equipment for people in need.

Liz said: "We have a lot of applications for people with vast disabilities and some of their equipment can cost £10,000 a time.

"We try to raise the money for people within four to six months when they apply for something.

"It's constant fundraising, we raise the money when it is needed for someone but also raise money for general funds.

"Each year we help about 80 people, for some it's the simplest thing like an iPad with speech apps for communication and mounts for it to be attached to a wheelchair.

"We've had parents in tears because a child has been able to say 'I love you mum' for the first time, which so many people take for granted, but when you think these people have never been able to speak and when they don't have that faculties, it can be so hard for them.

"Without the faculties you can't communicate, so it can be life-changing for people."

For more information visit thesequaltrust.org.uk or search for the charity on social media.