More than £1,200 has been raised by pupils, staff and friends of a Helensburgh primary school and their families in the first week of a charity sponsored walk.

Colgrain Primary is holding a ‘walk-a-thon’ in support of pupil Mackenzie Cameron, who has a rare genetic condition which makes him especially susceptible to disease, and who spent eight weeks in hospital at the beginning of this year in a successful battle against Covid-19.

Mackenzie is now recovering at home in Cardross, but as a result of his fight against the disease, he is now having to learn how to walk all over again.

Mackenzie’s teachers, working closely with his parents Richard and Kelly, decided to hold a virtual sponsored walk during the Easter school holiday in which they hope everyone taking part will collectively cover the equivalent of the distance from Helensburgh to Disneyland Paris.

The Covid pandemic meant that Mackenzie and his family were unable this year to go on their much-anticipated family holiday to Disneyland.

So far, £1,201 has been raised by pupils at Colgrain and their parents and carers, as well as the staff, families, friends and kind-hearted members of the public who are taking part in the walk.

All the cash raised in the event will be donated to Samuel’s Smile, a charity which helps children with rare diseases, and the John O’Byrne Foundation, set up to help youngsters in Glasgow’s Royal Hospital For Children, where Mackenzie received treatment.

So that the total distance covered can be accurately measured, the school has also set up two Google Forms – one covering the first week of the Easter break, ending today (Friday, April 9), and the second running from Saturday, April 10 until Friday, April 16.

And if you haven’t yet signed up to take part there’s still time to join in.

You can find the Google Forms here (week 1) and here (week 2).

And you can donate online via a special JustGiving page here.