A HAMPSHIRE family who have worked tirelessly to fundraise for their son’s new wheelchair have said “thank you” to their community.

Six-year-old Finn Kitchen, of Kings Worthy, was born with the rare condition Joubert Syndrome and needed a new wheelechair to help him get around more easily.

His illness means he has difficulty walking and his mum Katie, 31, and dad Dan, 26, realised a lightweight wheelchair would really help him.

Their campaign saw friends, colleagues and community groups pull together to raise the £2,500 needed for a lightweight wheelchair - and Finn is impressed with the result.

“It's great, and it is shiny. I like it because it is orange - that's my favourite colour. I can do more on my own and wheel by myself. I go by myself (and collect items) and come back when we go shopping,” he said.

Mrs Kitchen said: “We didn’t expect to raise as much as we did as quickly as we did and we feel very humbled for people to have given us much as they have.

“It’s just so much easier for him to get around and to have a bit more independence which is what any six-year-old needs. I think he likes all this attention and having a nice new orange wheelchair!”

Mrs Kitchen said that on launching the campaign last September, it gathered pace quickly, and by January everyone from the Girl Guides and the primary school, to a local plumber and the Winchester Round Table, had chipped in.

“His favourite moment was when his friends took part in a superhero sponsored walk – that really meant a lot to him,” she added. "We’re amazingly lucky to live in such a great community.”