Friends go the distance for family appeal

A fundraising campaign launched to help a seven-year-old girl with a rare degenerative condition has exceeded its target.

Friends, family and strangers have raised more than £11,000 for Mabel, from Cleveleys in Lancashire, who has Batten disease.

The money will help the family buy a wheelchair-accessible van.

Mabel's mother, Cheryl, said: "I'm so grateful to my friends for their support and for all the help we've received in the last three years."

The incurable illness affecting the nervous system has left Mabel unable to walk or talk, and reliant on a wheelchair. She also struggles with eating and drinking.

The family said they face increasing challenges transporting her to regular enzyme therapy at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, which cannot cure the disease but helps slow some of its symptoms.

A group of Cheryl's friends recently took on the 9 mile (15km) Tough Mudder assault course at Tatton Park in Cheshire to support the appeal.

A month ago, the family's fundraising page had raised £5,256 towards its £10,000 target. It has now reached more than £11,300.

Cheryl and her husband Chris, both 42, say a wheelchair-accessible van had become increasingly important as lifting Mabel in and out of their car became more difficult.

Cheryl told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the "worst thing" was knowing Mabel's condition would get worse.

"One of the symptoms is eyesight degeneration and eventual blindness and that's what we fear next," she said.

The fundraising challenge was completed by Cheryl and seven of her friends.

"The kindness people have shown has been really humbling and overwhelming," she said.

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