A ROSYTH boy paralysed by a virus when he was just two desperately needs his own powered wheelchair.

Frankie Haddow has access to one when he attends Camdean Primary but when his school day is done it is locked in a classroom unused.

The eight-year-old uses a wheelchair for his condition, which has left him struggling to walk.

Mum Nicola told the Press: "He used to be able to walk using a walking frame but he can no longer stand or weight-bear.

"Surgery in September to stop his bones deforming any more has also left him extremely weak.

"The wheelchair service has given him a power wheelchair for education to promote his independence and help him with fatigue but are denying him access to this at home.

"We have fought, as have his physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to allow him one for home use but they continue to deny him as he can propel from his bedroom to a bathroom manually.

"However, he can't propel around our home or garden unaided and as a result, he has lost his independence, confidence and happiness.

"It just seems like madness that the chair sits in a cupboard every single night, weekend and holidays."

Frankie was a happy, healthy little boy when he suddenly took ill just before his second birthday.

He was diagnosed with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, a virus that attacks the spinal cord and central nervous system and left him paralysed from the neck down for two weeks.

Frankie faced a long recovery process and defeated the odds by walking into his first day at primary school three years ago.

But his physical health has deteriorated since then. The effects of the virus have caused so much nerve damage and deformed his bones that the family is now coming to terms with the reality that he won’t be able to walk.

The family has been fighting for a powered wheelchair throughout this year.

The Haddows have been told Frankie can be reassessed in a few months but they feel that the goalposts keep moving and have now resorted to finding the funds themselves.

"It makes us so sad that his freedom has been taken away," Nicola said.

"He needs this for his independence and welfare.

"We just realised we're never going to get it.

"It's going to cost around £12,300 to fund the chair privately.

"The Mary Leishman Foundation has kindly donated £7,000 which has given us a great start!

"We have a GoFundMe page set up and our friends have organised a derby charity match between Rosyth and the Hillfield Swifts, so hopefully it won't take too long to hit the total!"

The charity match will take place at the Fleet Grounds at 2pm on November 24.