Rocking Ron raises the roof and lots of
cash for Kirsten

A teenager forgot her pain and danced in her wheelchair on the happiest night of her life.

More than 400 people gave their time, their money and their friendship to lift the spirits of 17-year-old Kirsten Edwards to stage a rock night which has probably raised more than £2,500.

The money raised by Ron Adams, Kirsty Tapley and Audra West, who are colleagues of Kirsten's mother, Julie Longmuir, at Pendine Park..

The proceeds will be split between purchasing a made-to-measure lightweight wheelchair for Kirsten and a tea dance and entertainment afternoon which staff want to organise this spring for dementia sufferers.

Kirsten, 17, of Llanerfyl, near Welshpool, has Wegener's Granulomatosis, a rare form of vasculitis, which attacks her own organs. She has spent the last five years in pain and has only 50% kidney function, holes in her lungs, She is also deaf because the disease has destroyed the bones in her ears and attacked the bones in her nose. Swollen joints make it painful to walk.

Her mum Julie, 48, a lead trainer and NVQ assessor at the Smartcare Teaching Care Centre, which is part of the Pendine Park organisation, says the wheelchair will give Kirsten independence since she often needs her mum to push her basic wheelchair.

Ron Adams, who works as a support worker at Pendine Park's Independent Living Organisation, was moved when he heard of Kirsten's problem and decided to organise a rock night fund raiser.

As a member of the AC/DC cover band The Swillers he enlisted the support of other local bands Marblehead Johnson, Blind Justice, Thunder Pig, and Revolver along with Hells Bells Rock Disco and KLS Sound and Lighting to give their time free for a gig at Brymbo Cricket Club.

Julie said: "It was absolutely wonderful I have never seen Kirsten so happy. It was the happiest she has been since before this disease struck. I didn't know beforehand whether she would be OK or how she would react, but she was just so happy. It was brilliant, she was dancing in her wheelchair."

"It was a lovely evening, a really, really good night, I can't begin to thank those who gave us such support"

Ron was amazing, he's got just such the biggest heart. And he wore his kilt (Julie and Kirsten are Scottish), with a leather waistcoat and boots - I couldn't believe it! I don't know how but I just want to thank people from the bottom of my heart.

Assistant manager at Pendine Park's Independent Living Organisation, Kirsty Tapley, along with manager Audra West, organised much of the event and secured a mass of raffle gifts.