A DISABLED young man's strength and zest for life has inspired an outpouring of love and support from the travelling community.
More than £7,000 was raised by members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community for Jake Howes, an incredible 21-year-old from Weardale in County Durham.
Jake was born healthy but when he was just a week old he became very ill and suffered brain damage which left him blind, with cerebral palsy affecting all his limbs, epilepsy and severe learning difficulties.
He also has neuromuscular scoliosis, which means his spine is twisted and curved, and at the start of this year his condition deteriorated at an alarming rate.
After two operations were cancelled due to Covid, he eventually had spinal rodding surgery and now needs specialist seating to accommodate his body's rigid position and restrict any further decline in his spine, hips and pelvis.
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Jake loves being outdoors and has become a familiar face at GRT gatherings across Britain, which his photographer mother Helen Blackburn likes to attend to take pictures.
Parents Alistair Howes and Helen Blackburn were desperate for Jake to be able to continue enjoying the outdoor life and found an all-terrain wheelchair which could be adapted to suit Jake, but feared its hefty price-tag was out of reach.
Friends in the travelling community heard of their plight and rallied round to organise a series of events to raise the money they needed.
Miss Blackburn said: "The donations came in from far and wide. Mostly folk we knew, other we knew of and friends of friends soon on the list too.
"Some donations floored us, almost literally leaving our mouths hanging open."
Drives were held across Scotland and the North East, people held raffles, set their own sponsored challenges, a collection tin was filled at Yarm Fair and folk singer Daoiri Farell dedicated a Covid corner session to Jake.
Miss Blackburn said her heart nearly jumped out of her chest at the kindness shown to Jake, who she describes as a "young man whose strength and love of life would make many a strong man weak" who charms everyone he meets.
She said: "Thank you doesn't seem enough for making such a positive life-changing difference to one family, who isn't part of the GRT community but has been welcomed with open arms."
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