THE mother of an severely disabled Anglesey man thanked the charity shop staff who raised funds for his new wheelchair.
Headways Charity Shop in Llangefni raised £2,500 to Michael Samuel, of Rhosneigr, after hearing that of his fight against a condition that has caused eight brain and spinal tumours in nine years.
His mother Jane said that the donation from the shop was a welcome surprise.
“As a family we’re stunned and thrilled,” she said.
“I told Michael yesterday and he just couldn’t believe it.”
22-year-old Michael suffers from the genetic condition Von Hippel Lindau Syndrome, which causes benign tumours to grow throughout the body.
Michael has severe weakness in his left arm and legs and is completely wheelchair dependent.
There is no cure for the condition, and tumours have to be treated as they appear with radiotherapy, stereotactic radio surgery or open surgery.
Michael was in intensive care for five and a half months at the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery after having a brain stem tumour removed.
He is currently recovering at Aintree University Hospital. Mrs Samuel said that michael is in remarkably good spirits, despite suffering a nine tumours in two years.
“Even the nurses comment on how upbeat Michael is,” she said.
“Obviously, he does get frustrated sometimes but he is remarkably positive.”
The money raised will go towards a multifunction chair that can be tilted to relieve pressure on Michael’s body and allow him to stay in the chair longer.
Mrs Samuel added: “My husband Peter, my mother in law Rita, daughter Kathryn and myself would like to say a huge thank you to Headways,” she said.
“What they’ve given to Michael is fantastic and will open up so many doors for him.”
Manager of the charity shop Joyce McCormick said that she was the shop will close tomorrow after raising £12,500 for head injury treatment in the Island since last summer.