A NEWPORT boy who suffers from three debilitating illnesses is to be presented with a special electric bike that will allow him to cycle with his brother and friends.

Dylan Shackson, eight, from Malpas, has suffered from lower motor neurone syndrome, anterior horn cell disease, and bulbar palsy since birth.

Dylan has weak muscles from his waist down due to lower motor neurone syndrome and his muscles are not very responsive as a result of horn cell disease. As a sufferer of bulbar palsy, he has trouble eating and drinking and is at constant risk of choking.

With limited mobility, Dylan has not got the strength to turn the peddles of bikes with either his feet or hands. It has meant that he has been unable to join his friends and younger brother, Hayden, seven, when they go cycling.

Feeling that her son was missing out, Dylan’s mother, Kelly Shackson, 37, has been fundraising since January by hosting medium nights, backpacking events, and even a charity leg wax at Dylan’s school at Alway Primary School.

The family have raised £2,800 to pay for the bike, which attaches on to Dylan's wheelchair, and is made by Team Hybrid. It will be fitted on April 13 and Mrs Shackson said that the bike will change Dylan's life.

She said: “Dylan can’t get in and out of the bath and he doesn’t sleep very well. With bulbar palsy, he chokes a lot and I need someone with me at all times when we go out to keep an eye on him.

“When his younger brother goes off on his glider or bike, he can’t join in, so we can’t really take him out. This will be life-changing for Dylan and I can’t wait to take him out in the summer.

“We really could not be any more thankful. It’s amazing and we’re absolutely overjoyed.”

Although Dylan is a pupil at Alway Primary School, among those to have helped the Shacksons raise the money is Gaer Primary School.

Last Thursday, the school presented a cheque of £326 to the family, with Sue Davies, a teacher at the school, having met Mrs Shackson at a medium fundraising event on March 10.

The school held a non-uniform day for Red Nose Day and Mrs Davies, alongside fellow teacher Kelly Timmons, took up the ice bucket challenge to help raise further funds.

Mrs Davies said: “The kids have been so generous and I’m so proud of them all. It’s amazing and it just goes to show the community spirit that’s in the area.

“The ice bucket challenge was quite cold, to say the least, but thinking of Dylan and how this would help him got us through.

“It was lovely to help someone local and actually see where the money is going. Often, the end result is not always so close to home.”