An Ayrshire disabled schoolboy is set to enjoy more days at the beach after kind donations poured in.
Brave Leon McCarrell is unable to walk due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) which he has suffered from since birth.
The 11-year-old former Dalmilling Primary School pupil — who will start at Queen Margaret Academy this month — has struggled with family days out as his electric chair is unable to get onto uneven surfaces and sand.
This summer Leon was able to get onto the sands at Irvine thanks to special hire chairs that were made available.
But when there was none available on a trip to the coast last month, Leon’s mum Stacey Cummings, 34, decided it was time for her son to have his own.
An online fundraiser was set up for the youngster with the community in Ayr North showing their support.
After less than a week the Go Fund Me has soared to £3,865 nearing its £4,500 target.
The funds will go towards a new chair, roof rack and storage.
Stacey hopes the new chair will give her son a better chance at living a normal life after being stuck watching from afar.
She told Ayrshire Live: “Leon always thinks that everything goes wrong for him; any time he wants to do something it always goes wrong.
“This chair can hopefully change that for him so he can get out and enjoy things more.
“I just want him to have as normal a life as possible.
“We managed to get to use chairs they had at Irvine beach this summer that were donated to them for a week from Berwick.
“Leon had the time of his life enjoying the sand and spending time in the sea because the chair also floats — he was just loving it.
“We went back the following Sunday and the chairs were gone and he was heartbroken.”
With the funds coming through for a new chair Leon also hopes to enjoy camping and fishing with his brother Liam, 17.
And he can’t wait to visit his home beach.
Mum Stacey added: “He can’t wait to go to Ayr beach and get on the sand. It also means he can go down by the river or lochs with his brother to go fishing.
"It will mean he can get out to do so much more.”
Stacey and Leon’s dad, David McCarrell, 44, are overwhelmed with the support shown from the fundraiser.
Stacey added: “Everyone has rallied round for us. It has been incredible.
"We’ve had offers to do raffles to add to the donations. We can’t thank everyone enough.”
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