THE race is on to raise the £10,000 needed to buy Winyates West man Craig Evans a new electric wheelchair.

The Redditch Advertiser is launching an appeal for the severely disabled 26 year old after we were flooded with calls from kind-hearted readers following last week's report about his plight.

Craig, who lives independently in a flat in Mordiford Close, suffers from degenerative muscle wasting disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and relies heavily on an electric wheelchair.

But shortly after he moved into his flat, his nine-year-old wheelchair gave up to the ghost and a replacement costs £10,000.

Many readers were touched by his story - some were outraged that such a needy person should have to pay so much for a wheelchair - while others just desperately wanted to help.

The appeal has already had a kick-start with an anonymous donation of £100.

Meanwhile, Webheath woman Jean Leithwaite wants to use her experience of working within the community to help the cause.

She has offered to spearhead the campaign and plans to contact businesses in the area and encourage them to donate.

"I have started a collection already and want to set up a bank account in Craig's name," said Mrs Leithwaite, a board member of Rooftop Housing in Evesham.

She will be helped by Helen Curtiss, also of Redditch, who will use her expertise in event planning to organise a fundraising spectacular.

Mrs Curtiss said: "I read the story and was really touched.

''A few days later, I couldn't stop thinking about it and was wracking my brains to think of what I could do to help.

''I thought that if I did a fundraiser on my own, I would raise £50 or £100 but if I get a team of people together, I could raise a lot more."

She is looking for help from other enthusiastic residents to organise the fundraiser and plans to hold a meeting next month if she receives a positive response from readers.

"I'd like to hear from anyone willing to spare some time to help out, also people who can do face painting, musicians, candy floss sellers, entertainers - everything and anything," she added.

"If we are going to do something, let's make it the biggest and best."

Anyone interested in helping can email Mrs Leithwaite at jleithwaite@jleithwaite.plus.com or call Mrs Curtiss on 459465.