Plucky Ewan inspires pals
A SICK youngster has inspired his school pals to raise cash for charity.
Ten- year- old Ewan Patton suffers from a rare lung disease, and this week his friends at Hetton Lyons Primary School handed over almost £ 800 to the Breathtakers charity, which has supported the youngster and his family.
Ewan was diagnosed with the debilitating disease, obliterative bronchiolitis ( OB) – a rare and irreversible lung condition – which could lead to him needing a transplant in the future.
Every year, Hetton Lyons Primary holds a community fun day and chooses a charity to benefit from the money it makes.
This year, the event raised £ 1,570, which was divided between Breathtakers, which has supported Ewan, and Diabetes UK, which has helped the families of other children at the school who have diabetes.
Ewan’s mum Elizabeth went along to the school to accept the money on behalf of the charity.
The Easington Lane mumoffour, said: “I was absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of money from the school. It is fantastic.”
Breathtakers is the only charity in the country which supports sufferers of OB and their families, and Ewan himself raised £ 370 by doing the Junior Great North Run.
Elizabeth said the charity is raising money to buy specialised equipment for the RVI Hospital in Newcastle.
Ewan, who was born five weeks early and also has curvature of the spine, can often be so breathless he cannot get off the settee.
But, the Easington Lane youngster does his best to live life to the full.
Elizabeth said: “He hasn’t been doing so well recently, but he is an inspiration. He is always smiling and wants to lead a happy life.
“We keep positive too and that impacts on Ewan.”
During the autumn and winter months Ewan loses a lot of school days because of his condition, but Elizabeth said the staff at Hetton Lyons have always been hugely supportive.
She said: “They have been amazing, they have supported Ewan, supported us as a family and now are supporting Breathtakers.”