Published at 17:29, Monday, 21 January 2013

By Jonathan HumphriesTHE charity started in the wake of a cruel theft has given another youngster in Barrow a special gift.

GIFT: Brady Clifton with his new bike. Inset, Joanne and Harrison Holmes

Brady Clifton, aged 11, is autistic, and can only ride a specially adapted bike, costing hundreds of pounds.

However Harrison’s Fun Fund, the charity named after 11-year-old Harrison Holmes, from Abbey Road, stepped in and provided the cash for Brady to get on the road.

Harrison’s mum Joanne Holmes, who started the charity, enlisted the help of music promoter Colin Chatfield.

Mr Chatfield, organiser of Unity in the Park, set up a fundraising night at The Tally Ho Pub, Schneider Road, which helped to raise more than £300.

Mrs Holmes said: “The fundraiser went really well and Colin did a lot of work.

“We will definitely continue to raise money for local youngsters. With the weather being so bad we haven’t been able to do too much, but as soon as it warms up a bit we will be organising more events to raise money.”

Mrs Holmes said that plans were already under way to raise money to buy a bike for another child with cerebral palsy.

The youngster will be undergoing surgery on his leg in the coming months and need months of physio, but Mrs Holmes says the bike will be a huge incentive to get better.

She said: “Being the mum of a child with special needs myself I think it gives me the motivation to carry on with the fundraising. It’s about allowing the children to have fun which is really important.”

The charity was born after Harrison’s bike was stolen from his garden last year.

After an article appeared in the Evening Mail appealing for the bike’s return, the family were overwhelmed with donations from the Barrow public.

The fund, which has raised more than £2,000 so far, is currently in the process of becoming a registered charity.

Plans are already under way to host another fundraising event at The Tally Ho, involving live bands, with details to be released in the coming weeks.

Anyone with any fundraising ideas for the charity, or who wishes to make a donation, should call Joanne Holmes on 07445 812855.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk