A CARER who looks after a man with an inherited neurological muscle wasting disease has launched a fundraising campaign to buy him a new mobility scooter.

Christopher Sharp, 42, of Fern Street, Colne, bought a second-hand scooter but it was later confiscated by police after it was discovered it had been stolen.

The man who stole the scooter was identified but no further action was taken against him.

Christopher, who has a degenerative illness, lost the money he had paid for the scooter and couldn’t afford to buy another, so his carer 41-year-old Deborah Robinson has made it her mission to replace it.

Deborah, who lives in the same street as Christopher, has cared for him for six years.

She said: “Sharpy suffers from Friedreich’s ataxia, a neurological muscle wasting disease, which attacks the nervous system and causes the muscles in his body to fade away. It is hereditary and his mother and brother both passed away to heart failure caused by the disease.

“He can’t go anywhere unless I take him out but he likes to be independent like everybody does, and a new scooter would mean the world to him.

“I put it on Facebook and people gave me a lot of support. People suggested that I hold an event and it just went from there.”

Deborah has planned a fundraiser on Sunday, August 4, at the Union Exchange in Colne.

Landlady Maggie Owens offered to host the event free of charge, and the pair have planned a family day with a barbecue, face painting, bands and DJs.

Deborah has also organised a raffle with some impressive prizes, including a week in Altinkham, Turkey, in May next year.

Residents and business, including the Kaya Media, Fireplace Warehouse, Create Studios, and the Crown Hotel, came forward to donate prizes after hearing Christopher’s plight.

Deborah said: “The main aim is to get Sharpy a scooter, and maybe some other mobility aids. We’ll donate any leftover money to charity.”

The event starts at 2pm and raffle tickets cost £1.