A YEAR after the For Luca campaign launched it has gained support from around the globe – and raised nearly £200,000 for the boy left without lower legs by meningitis.

The campaign, which aims to raise £1.5 million to help the brave Newport youngster, has been supported by stars like footballer Diego Maradona, illusionist Dynamo, Pop Star Pixie Lott, members of the Welsh rugby team and Formula One drivers Seb Vettel and Mark Webber, Broadchurch star Jodie Whittaker and rock star Gene Simmons, to name just a few of those touched by his battle.

On January 6, 2012, Luca Williams was given a three per cent chance of survival after being struck down by meningococcal septicaemia.

The three-year-old spent two weeks in a drug-induced coma in intensive care and ultimately lost his lower legs to the condition.

Four months later, his parents, Mo Syed and Sian Williams, launched the Raise Your Hands for Luca campaign to raise awareness of the disease.

Celebrities lent their support by posing for pictures with “For Luca” written on their hands.

The campaign has gone global with people taking part from as far as Australia and New Zealand, and even American rock star Gene Simmons from Kiss rose his hand in support.

Luca’s parents have received a huge amount of support in their bid to raise the £1.5 million, and following 177 donations, the fund currently stands at £196,860.84.

The money will be used to buy prosthetic legs for Luca throughout his lifetime. More than 22,000 people have liked Luca’s Facebook page, which promotes his parents’ fundraising campaign.

Family says ‘we cannot thank you enough’ as fundraising continues

THE battle is not over for the youngster, who is still undergoing operations and treatment on his legs.

He has also got a set of what the family calls “clip-on legs” to get him used to the idea of using them, but is as yet unable to walk with them as operations have been taking place on his knees.

Mr Syed recently posted on the For Luca Facebook page: “If you have raised your hand For Luca we cannot thank you enough.

“There are years ahead of us so we look forward to even more people joining Luca’s story and becoming part of an ever expanding collage that will be the most magnificent 18th birthday present.”

The campaign joined forces with The Tree of Hope Children’s Charity to help future fundraising.

Chief executive officer of Tree of Hope Jeremy Marris said: “We are delighted at the amount that has so far been raised for Tree of Hope to support Luca.

“The generosity of South Wales folk is amazing and heartwarming.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/forluca

ARGUS COMMENT: Success is remarkable

IT IS HARD to believe that in just one year, the For Luca campaign has amassed an amazing £196,800.

Regular Argus readers will remember how we revealed the story of Luca Williams after the three-year-old lost the lower part of his legs to meningococcal septicaemia.

The youngster was given just a three per cent chance of survival. Amazingly, though, he pulled through.

His family and their friends were then inspired to launch the Raise Your Hands For Luca campaign to raise money for lifelong treatment and prosthetics. They set themselves a steep target of £1.5 million – and that is when this remarkable story changed gear.

For there is something about this little boy’s story which has touched people worldwide. Fundraising, which began among friends and family, then the wider local public, schools and sports groups in the area, then spread like wildfire to the rest of the world.

Celebrities, the Wales rugby team, numerous stars of pop, TV and film, even president Obama, have all queued up to become involved in the campaign.

So many have raised their hands with For Luca written on them to help with the fundraising but, more than that, to raise awareness of an illness which so nearly cost Luca his life.

The phenomenal success of the campaign is heart-warming.

Long may it continue.