A heartwarming story of determination and kindness has gone viral after a British company went above and beyond to help a boy with severe autism.

Ben Carter, a 14-year-old boy from Devon, England, who is non-verbal and has severe autism, had only ever drunk from one specific blue Tommee Tippee cup with two handles since he was two years old. It was the only cup he trusted.

When the discontinued cup — which had been out of production for over 20 years — began to wear out, Ben’s family grew increasingly worried. Ben refused to drink from any other cup, even leading to two hospital visits for dehydration.

In desperation, Ben’s father, Marc Carter, posted a photo of the beloved cup on social media, explaining the situation and pleading for help. The post quickly went viral, with thousands of people sharing it and some even searching their homes for old cups to send to the family.

The story eventually reached Tommee Tippee, the cup’s manufacturer. The company took immediate action, locating the original mould at their factory in China. In an extraordinary gesture, they produced 500 identical blue cups and gifted them to Ben and his family in December 2016.

Marc Carter described the moment they received the cups as feeling “better than winning the lottery.”

The family was overwhelmed by the support and kindness shown. Marc also used the platform to raise awareness about autism, stressing that every child on the spectrum is unique and has their own specific needs.

A beautiful example of a community and a company coming together to make life just a little easier for a special young boy.