Newport man dyes beard blue for Luca (From South Wales Argus)

Newport man dyes beard blue for Luca

9:40pm Friday 25th May 2012 in Gwent news

A NEWPORT man has dyed his beard blue to raise money for little three-yearold Luca Williams, who lost his legs to septicaemia.

Andrew Roberts,49, known as Andy Dog, will be keeping his beard Luca’s favourite colour until June 15.

He has already raised more than £700 and is continuing to fundraise for the ‘Raise Your Hands for Luca’ campaign.

Luca was struck down by meningococcal septicaemia in January and lost all of the tissue and skin below his hips, as well as suffering severe damage to his knees.

Mr Roberts said: “I love getting involved with fundraising in any way I can, especially for children, the elderly and animals.

“Fundraising for Luca has given me so much pleasure and I hope that his parents soon raise enough funds for new legs for him to learn how to walk.” Since the launch of the campaign around £44,450 has been donated through the fundraising website Just Giving by more than 1,350 who have been touched by Luca’s story.

Celebrities such as Richard Jones, from the Stereophonics, members of the Wales rugby team and pop star Pixie Lott have shown their support posing for pictures with “For Luca” written on their hands.

The campaign also aims to raise £1.5 million to help fund special prosthetics for Luca which will be replaced as he grows up, and are not available through the NHS.

To donate visit www.justgiving.

com/forluca or text ‘LUCA80 £5 or £10’ to 70070 and for more information visit facebook.com/forluca1 or follow @for_luca