Wirral mum needs your help for William (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral mum needs your help for William

11:41am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in News By Stephanie Cureton

A WIRRAL mum, whose little boy is battling a muscle wasting disease, is calling on families to back a fun day held in his honour.

Kelly Magee, from Prenton, has organised a massive fundraising event this weekend in a bid to boost funds for Duchenne Now.

The 32-year-old’s son, William, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy last year and she threw herself into raising cash for charity.

She launched an online petition to demand the Government put funding into Duchenne research and has so far raised more than £10,000.

And Kelly, who is also mum to eight-year-old Elizabeth, is hoping Sunday’s event will boost their grand total even further.

She said: “The day started out as a small fundraiser and gradually became this massive event with all sorts of things going on. The main thing is that we get as much awareness as possible out there and raise lots of money for Duchenne Now.

“We have had so much support from so many people, it’s been overwhelming how they all want to help us.”

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive, aggressive muscle wasting condition which is most common in boys.

Symptoms usually begin in the legs and pelvis before the disease slowly takes away all use of the body's muscle, leading to eventual death.

Among Kelly’s efforts to raise awareness of the two-year-old's condition was a special video montage telling viewers about Duchenne’s, for which Coldplay gave their approval to use their hit ‘Fix You’.

And she is already busy planning the next fundraisers, including an 11-mile children’s bike ride.

Kelly added: “We want to build up a strong network of people supporting William and want people to know more about the disease. We need to do this for him and the thousands of other children suffering.”

The family fun day, which include a bouncy castle, games and music, takes place on Sunday, August 19 at White’s Farm, Station Road, Thurstaston from 12pm.

The children’s bike ride will be held on September 1 along the Wirral Way. For more information, contact Kelly on 07724 742 488.