PUPILS have been inspired by an eight-year-old boy to dedicate their fund raising activities to a little-known charity.

Spennymoor School’s student council has selected the Batten Disease Family Association as its adopted good cause.

They chose the charity after learning about its work with Kyran Richmond, a Chilton youngster with Juvenile Batten Disease.

Presenting £500 to Kyran, school council member Saffi Hutchinson, 15, said: "It is a horrible disease so we thought it would be good to do different things to raise money for him and the charity as we know Kyran and his family will go through difficult times and this may help."

Kyran is thought to be only the third person in the region diagnosed with the terminal genetic disorder which affects mainly the nervous system.

He is likely to develop epilepsy, lose the ability to walk, talk, eat and see and it will shorten his life expectancy.

Kyran’s grandfather, David Mitchell, attendance manager at the school, chairs a fund raising group in aid of Kyran.

Friends and family also support the BDFA which is the only UK charity that helps families affected by the disease and facilitates research into it.

Mr Mitchell said: "We have had such a lot of support, we’re really grateful to The Northern Echo and the people who have read about Kyran and supported us."

Chilton Workingmen’s Club and the Ferryhill Six fund raising group are among those who have made donations.

The school had previously raised money for the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society after an earlier diagnosis suggested Kyran had the eye condition.

Headteacher Paul Gillis said: "The school council is extremely proud to be involved with a national charity that supports a child from our local community.

"The students have embraced the charity and Kyran’s needs through a variety of fund raising activities over the past two years."

To support Kyran visit kyranrichmondfundraising.co.uk.