A BOY who suffers from a serious muscle condition has been brought a new customised wheelchair to help boost his mobility thanks to donations from gamblers.

Owain Price, from Ledbury, suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a serious condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and waste over time.

Customers and staff at Cashino gaming centre in Hereford on Eigngate, have helped to fundraise and buy Owain a new wheelchair.

The store which is part of a national chain of adult gaming centre is one of the main fundraisers for CHIPS, a charity set up on behalf of the gaming industry, which aims to provide specialised powered wheelchairs for children with severe mobility problems.

Owain’s dad, Richard, said: “I am extremely grateful to Cashino and CHIPS charity for the powered wheelchair. Owain’s current NHS chair is four-years-old and has become unsuitable for his needs. He is growing up and he will really appreciate the extra independence that the new chair will provide, it will make a great difference to the quality of his life and to the lives of all the family.”

Owain, who lives with his mum Zoe, dad Richard, and younger brother and sister, Llywelyn and Ffifion has already started to enjoy his new wheelchair.

Anna-Marie Evans, Cashino venue manager, added: “Owain is a remarkable young boy and is so deserving of this wheelchair. It is incredible to see how much happiness it has brought to him and his family, making such a big impact in their lives. This makes all the fundraising effort from all of our staff and customers throughout our estate certainly worth it.”

To date CHIPS has raised over £1,500,000 and presented over 400 wheelchairs to children throughout the UK.