A Sunderland family has decorated their house with 6,000 Christmas lights in a bid to raise money for their neighbours.
Neil Wilson spent three weeks putting the lights up all over his home in Castletown in a bid to help eight-year-old Will Calvert who lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The serious condition leads to progressive muscle weakness and is caused by a lack of a protein called dystrophin.
Will's parents, Caroline and Robert, noticed that he waddled slightly when he started walking as his left foot turned inwards an in December 2015 the family were told that he had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Now the family's neighbours are hoping to raise money for Will and raise awareness of the condition by illuminating their house in Christmas lights.
Drivers and pedestrians passing by are invited to donate to Muscular Dystrophy UK, either by dropping money into a bucket outside the house or through the family's fundraising page.
Neil's wife Alison said: "Neil absolutely loves Christmas, he’s like a big kid and this year, above all others, we wanted to bring joy to Will and his family.
"He started sourcing the lights in August after we closed our business during lockdown, all but the lights on the house were bought second hand locally and Neil spent three weeks putting them up.
"Our children, Dolly 4, Dexter 9 and Charlie 12 love this year’s decorations and Dexter, who goes to school with Will, puts the collection bucket out every night"
Will's condition causes muscle fibres to break down and are replaced by fibrous and or fatty tissue causing the muscle to weaken gradually.
The family launched their Family Fund 'I’m In For Will' four years ago and have so far raised £62,546.
Will’s mum Caroline Calvert said: "From the very moment William was diagnosed with Duchenne our amazing community have given us so much support.
"We are so very grateful and it really gives us hope. Neil and Amanda are wonderful neighbours and have made William very happy with all the lights as well as raising awareness and vital funds for the charity."
Susanne Driffield, North East and Yorkshire Regional Development Manager for MDUK said: "Having spent time with family and friends of Will I have seen at first hand the incredible support they have received from their community.
"Their determination to fundraise and raise awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is tireless.”
You can support 'I’m In For Will' by visiting their Just Giving page here.
