Fundraising walk for Hayden will take place today

A CHARITY walk will take place today (Saturday) in Strabane to help raise funds for a 12-year-old boy from the town in need of life-changing surgery.

Family and friends of Hayden Kelly will gather at St Catherine’s Primary School before walking to Knockavoe in an effort to raise more money for his treatment in Turkey.

Hayden, who has been diagnosed with scoliosis which leads to curvature of the spine, is hoping to raise the £50,000 necessary to pay for an operation which could have a drastic impact on his life.

Final push

Hayden’s mum Shauna Kildea told the Chronicle the family have raised £31,000 so far and are putting in a final push to get the funds they need.

“We’re doing everything we can at the minute to try and raise the funds.

“We’re getting there now and hoping to reach the target in the next few weeks so we can start arranging the surgery,” Shauna said.

“Everyone has been amazing and there are so many people helping out. It’s unbelievable to me that so many people have been willing to help and reach out.”

Shauna added that Hayden has been coping well despite his condition and is lucky to have so many people supporting him.

“He understands to a degree what is going on and he is coping really well. We have been preparing him now for weeks about the surgery and needing to fundraise and everything. He’s taking it all in his stride at the minute. There’s 12 of us taking part in the walk so far between family members and friends, so it’s just another way of helping us reach our fundraising goal.”