Amazing news as funds hit £60,000 (From The Northern Echo)

Fundraising events took place all over the region

8:19am Monday 22nd March 2010 in Limbs For Lyndon By Bessie Robinson, Chief Reporter (South West Durham)

GENEROUS North-East communities have hit a £60,000 jackpot providing a better life for a disabled teenage sports star.

The money has poured into a fund set up by Durham County Council Council chairman Brian Myers for 14-year-old Lyndon Longhorne, from Crook, County Durham.

People all over the region have held fundraising events, from coffee mornings to country and western nights to raise the cash, while Darlington “Dragon” Duncan Bannatyne donated £25,000.

Councillor Myers initially set a £10,000 target to buy Lyndon a pair of artificial legs.

He reached that in a matter of days and is now staggered to have beaten it five times over.

Now, a trust fund has been set up for Lyndon, so he will be able to replace his legs as he grows and buy bionic arms, so he can eventually drive.

Doctors had to amputate Lyndon’s legs and an arm when he contracted meningitis as a baby.

The same fighting spirit that helped him survive the trauma has stayed with him and he is now training to swim for Britain in the 2010 Paralympic Games.

A few days ago, Lyndon was told that British Swimming had picked him for a training squad after he won five golds and clocked two personal best times in a competition in Sheffield.

Coun Myers holds Lyndon in such high regard that he presented him with his Chairman’s Medal last year.

Along with his wife, Alice, he has attended scores of cheque presentation ceremonies, often standing in when Lyndon and his mother, Tammy Shevels, are too busy to attend.

Last week, he was at Weardale Flower Club to receive £500 raised at the club’s Christmas demonstration night.

He said: “People have been very generous. So many groups like this have been extremely generous and enabled us to raise this money very quickly.

“I can’t believe we have reached £60,000 in such a short time.

“Anyone who knows Lyndon could not help but admire him. He is ambitious and wants to succeed, and I am sure he will.

“At the same time he is a nice, down-to-earth young man who I am proud to call a friend.”

Lyndon’s mother, Tammy, said: “It is amazing what Brian has done in such a short time.

“He put his heart and soul into helping Lyndon and we can’t thank him enough.”

Coun Myers has also used his year in office to raise thousands of pounds for the Chyrelle Adams Breast Cancer Trust, founded by Willington singer Pat Greensmith.