An Ardrossan schoolboy with cerebral palsy has raised more than £2,000 for the NHS by completing a homemade obstacle course.

Steven Imrie, 9, who goes to Stanley Primary School, can’t walk without a frame and uses a wheelchair most of time.

But he wanted to help raise funds so, along with his family, he came up with an assault course and set the challenge to complete it.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

Mum, Ashley Charles Imrie, said: “Steven was born prematurely at 1lb 13 oz. He’s got cerebral palsy.

“For his first five or six months, he was neonatal at Crosshouse. He came home but then he had to go back to hospital, to Yorkhill, where he was in an induced coma.

“He had an operation on his heart, but it went wrong,

“They didn’t think there was much chance of him surviving, but he came through.”

Steven has a sister, Layla, who is 14 months older than him and Ashley said it can be difficult at times because he wants to do the same things as her but can’t.

She said: “But this is everyday life for us, we’ve never had it any different.

“We just get on with it and take it in our stride.

“I wouldn’t have him any other way, he fills our lives with joy.”

The course included some walking with his frame, gymnastics and work with hula hoops.

Steven has smashed his fundraising target of £1,000 and, at time of publication, he has made £2,392 for NHS Charities Together.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

Ashley said she is ‘absolutely bursting with pride’.

She said: “I was thinking how can you ever think about giving up when watching him trying with so much determination.”

Anita Gunion is a classroom support staff member at Stanley Primary School and works with Steven on and one-to-one basis.

She said: “This wee lad is remarkable.

“Steven is in P5 now and I’ve been his classroom support since P1.

“I spend a lot of time with him. He is an inspiration to me and all his class mates.

“He is so funny and kind and has a wicked sense of humour. He is fearless in everything he does and a helpful lovely natured wee boy, and he makes my job so easy.”

The funds Steven has raised will go to the Association of NHS Charities which the family chose not just because of the work the NHS is doing now but because, from the minute Steven was born, they have been there to make sure he is still with his family today.

Ashley said: “We would just like to say a massive thank you.”

You can donate to Steven’s fundraiser here.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: