Fundraising efforts for paralysed Danny

2:04pm Tuesday 2nd September 2008

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POLICEWOMEN, a vicar and Mickey Mouse were on the streets of Chipping Sodbury on Sunday fundraising for paralysed rugby player Danny Evans.

Friends of the 23-year-old, who compressed his spine in a freak accident at a friend’s house, wore head-turning fancy dress for the three-legged pub race and family fun day.

Organisers believe they have come close to reaching the £8,000 target to buy Danny his own electric wheelchair.

Event organiser Vickii (CORR) Barker said: "I think we have raised between £4,000 and £5,000 just from collections, an auction and the raffle and a lot of sponsored headshaves.

"A lot of people in Chipping Sodbury are bald this week and we had a lot of fun. Danny had a really good day.

"We still have sponsorship money to collect so we hope to have reached the target."

Danny, who was a winger with Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club, was left paralysed after he hit his head and compressed his spine in the accident after a night out on February 3.

"We were just mucking around in my friend’s living room, having a laugh," said Danny. "I remember slipping on the carpet and hitting my head on the wall as I fell."

Since then, Danny, of Gorlands Road, has been at a specialist spine hospital in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

He has been using a loan electric wheelchair from the hospital but on his return home in a month, friends and relatives are hoping to have raised enough money to buy Danny his own customised chair.

"It will make life a lot earlier for me and will mean I can be more independent," said Danny.

The fun day was held at the Portcullis Hotel, where Danny worked part-time as a bartender.

Landlady Thelma Youd said: "Danny has worked for me since he was about 16 as a glass collector.

"He is a great lad. We need to stop thinking about what could have been and thinking about what we can do."

Plans are now underway to launch a 2009 calendar featuring the Friends of Danny Evans to raise funds for more equipment Danny will need.