A GROUP of footballers showed their team spirit after raising enough money to modify a young boy’s wheelchair so he can play football.
Players from Darlington Town FC came together after hearing of football fan10-year-old Kyle Forster.
Kyle, who plays wheelchair football for Middlesbrough FC, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy - a severe type of muscular syndrome which means, although still mobile now, Kyle may eventually be completely reliant on a wheelchair.
In order to be able to continue playing, the youngster needs modifications to his chair and his team launched an appeal on his behalf.
Responding to the fundraising call, the Darlington players hosted a charity night and raised around £1,600 for Kyle’s cause.
With the help of Vicker’s Bookmakers and the turnout of around 120 people at Cleveland Bridge Social Club, on Neasham Road, the team put together a ‘races night’ taking small bets, fundraising activities and an auction of prizes which included an Italia ‘90 World Cup shirt signed by Paul Gascoigne and signed footballs.
On Saturday November 16, Darlington Town FC invited Kyle to watch one of their games, where they presented him with a cheque and his own club tshirt.
Mark Stephenson, Darlington Town FC’s team manager, said the fundraising event was a ‘real success’.
He said: “We’re just really pleased with how it turned out.
“We had met Kyle a couple of times and he is a lovely little lad.
“He’s smiling all of the time and always laughing and making jokes.
“I think his parents were really happy when we presented him with the cheque and the shirt. They said he hasn’t had the shirt off since we gave it to him.
“I told them if they ever need anything in the future to let us know because it’s better to raise money in bigger numbers than just them raising as a small family on their own.
“But the main factor is that Kyle will be getting his wheelchair modifications out of this and now he can keep playing football.
“We’re quite a new team ourselves so to be able to give something back to a fellow footballer is really great.”
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