Care pod for Black Isle lad Reece a step closer after 'breathtaking' fundraiser
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A ROSS-SHIRE woman fighting to make her terminally ill son as comfortable as possible is within touching distance of an ambitious £60,000 fundraising target – and now has the go-ahead from planners for a specially built "care pod".
This week, Donna Mitchell told of the emotional moment she first saw the pod now under construction in Easter Ross and of the kindness of strangers turned friends who are helping make her dream become reality.
Ms Mitchell's six-year-old son Reece, who was diagnosed just over a year ago, is suffering from a rapidly progressing variant of the currently incurable Batten disease which has already robbed him of his ability to walk, talk and see.
The North Kessock-based mum set her sights on a purpose-built care pod which will be installed in the garden of her Ferry Brae home to allow Reece to be as comfortable as possible – and save her from having to carry him up and down stairs.
A ladies day event organised in Inverness at the weekend by Karen Sutherland, who hails from Avoch, raised a remarkable £6400 towards that total after fellow well-wishers chipped in dozens of valuable raffle prizes and turned out in force to back the fundraiser.
Modest Ms Sutherland, a truck driver, admitted she was "still in shock at how much we raised" and hailed the generosity of backers. She said: "Yes I came up with the idea but it was everyone else's support that made it happen. The reason I got involved was because I read Donna's story. I'd never met her before and I was truly touched at what a strong woman she was.
"All she was doing was fighting for what's best for her little boy.We take life for granted far too often. I felt as though there was something I could do to help contribute towards her fundraising."
Despite being busy during the week, she pulled it all together at weekends, hoping the effort might pull in £1000.
She said: "I'm from Avoch and I'm proud to be a Black Isler because at times like this they always pull together."
Ms Mitchell, who was able to attend the ladies day at R&Bs, said: "It took my breath away how much was raised. Karen has worked incredibly hard. Saying thank you doesn't seem like enough. The support of people means so much to me."
A planning application for the care pod in her garden has been approved by Highland Council. The modular structure is already under construction at the Invergordon base of Carbon Dynamic, which was saved at the end of last year by the Alness-based Pat Munro Group. She said: ""I have been through to see it. I have to be honest, I got emotional. It has been so long. To actually see it and go inside was something special."
The pod has a bathroom, bedroom and living space. She said: "The space is amazing – it is going to be life-changing. Lifting him up and down the stairs and in and out of the bath can feel like a gym workout and to not have to do that will be incredible. We just can't wait for it now. It's thanks to everyone's efforts that we have got this far. It is the fundraising by everyone that has made it possible. Reece has his good days and bad days but by supporting this, people are changing his life for the better and I am so grateful."
She has already stated her intention that the pod can be given to another family when Reece no longer needs it.
