Willow Road in Winton, Salford, was transformed into a huge Halloween extravaganza to raise money for a 12-year-old boy struck down by a mystery illness.
Salford City Academy pupil Lewis Pierce fell seriously ill 11 weeks ago – but doctors are no closer to figuring out why.
It left the family – including dad Matthew, mum Michelle and younger brother Jack, 11, in a state of shock.
The local community – marshalled by family friend and co-ordinator Chrissy Corps – had by late September raised over £1,000 to support the family.
Two weeks later, a nine-hour fundraising walk through the streets of Winton raised a further £2,300
But it all went a step further on Saturday evening as Chrissy and his band of faithful volunteers set up a huge funfair to take over an entire street in Winton.
Chrissy tells us today that another £1,200 was raised on Saturday.
The 32-year-old, who didn’t want to appear on camera, said: “Before he got ill Lewis was a very active kid, he loved being out and spending time with people, and playing football on this street.
“We’ve had absolutely mega help from everybody. It wouldn’t be this big without everyone’s support, which is amazing.”
Dad Matthew Pierce was stunned by the response, telling SalfordOnline.com: “It’s crazy. When we got told this event was going to happen, you don’t believe it, you think, ‘They can’t shut down a whole street just in aid of Lewis?’.
“To turn up coming from the hospital and see a full funfair on the street where I’ve pretty much grown up is absolutely crazy.
“I just wish Lewis could be here, he’d be absolutely amazed.”
The 12-year-old suddenly fell ill in August after suffering a high temperature, but his family were shocked when he started to have seizures without warning, and even stopped breathing.
After three days he was taken to Salford Royal hospital, where he was transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and put in a medically-induced coma.
The family are no further on than they were 11 weeks ago, as Lewis is still suffering fits.
Doctors are now treating the popular boy for FIRES, or febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome, a potentially fatal illness that develops in previously healthy children.
At the moment little is understood about the condition and the prognosis is not easy to define.
“You’ve got to have hope otherwise you might as well just give up,” said Matthew.
“It’s devastating but all this that’s going on has made me, his mum and his little brother have that hope that he is going to get better. How back to himself he’ll get, nobody knows that yet.
“It’s going to be a long process with physio and rehabilitation, but you only have to look at what’s going on tonight to see that the community are all behind us and they’ll help us through this.”
You can find We Love Lewis on Facebook or add your donation at the GoFundMe page here
Video reporting and pictures by SalfordOnline.com Community Photographer Albert@itookyourpic.com
