A GWENT music group held a concert to raise funds for a disabled boy from Cwmbran to receive a mobile hoist.
Around 40 people attended the fundraiser held at the British Legion in Pontnewydd on Wednesday which raised £213 towards the £2,500 needed to buy Leon Mason a mobile hoist. The family from Griffithstown already have a hoist in their 11-year-old son's room but have difficulty lifting Leon when out and about.
Angela Mason, 54, mother of Leon, said: "Leon has cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic, he needs 24 hour care. He is a lovely happy boy but has problems with his hips dislocating so we have to be very careful when lifting him- he will need a hip replacement soon.
"He is quite heavy and I have to rely on my husband to lift him from his wheelchair whenever we go anywhere. A mobile hoist would mean a lot to Leon as he wouldn't need to stay in his wheelchair when we go out and it would mean a lot for me too."
The family have raised more than £1,000 so far to go toward the hoist which includes £810 raised by Paul Mason, 32, Leon's brother who ran the Newport Half Marathon last month. They needed to raise enough money for the deposit and the remainder will be funded by Cerebra, a charity which aims to improve the lives of children with brain related conditions through research and education.
The eight members of the Gwent Accordion Club played for two hours with accordions, a drum, two organist and guitars at the concert with songs which included 'Give My Regards To Broadway' and Tom Jones' 'Delilah.'
Mrs Mason said: "Everyone was so kind, I was quite taken aback when an anonymous donor gave us a wooden doll house to sell to go towards the hoist. I was quite overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who came, the Gwent Accordion Club who organised and played were absolutely fantastic, it was a very enjoyable evening."
Myra Slade, 78, of Cwmbran, secretary at the Gwent Accordion Club, said: "We have done a few charity concerts in the past and wanted to raise money for the little boy. We were very pleased with how it went but would have like a few more there."
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/yimby/MobileHoistforleon
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