An eight-year-old boy who inspired a community to give generously after deciding to sell his toys to raise money for his mother’s condition has handed over a cheque for £600.

Ben Culpeck planned and organised a yard sale at his Abbots Langley home ton June 23 to raise money to buy himself a new scooter.

His mother Helen, 37, suffers with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Ben decided that he wanted the money to help her and fellow sufferers instead.

The event was a huge success with dozens of people attending, including neighbours who had previously been strangers, and many choosing to pay substantial sums or simply give the money for a worthy cause.

In total, £420 was raised on the day, and the donations have continued to flow in from across the area totalling £600.

Last Friday (July 13) Helen and Ben travelled down to Borehamwood to present a cheque to Ehlers-Danlos Support and met with Lara Bloom, development manager at the charity and herself an EDS sufferer.

Helen said: "It was lovely and Lara was really pleased to meet Ben.

"Because I am local to the charity and she said she would include me in group meetings that happen.

"I nearly didn’t make it after having to go to hospital on Thursday after my hip decided to dislocate, I was determined to make it even if I didn’t stay that long."

Helen, of Trowley Rise, says she has been bowled over by the level of the response from the public, with strangers contacting her and making donations after being moved by Ben’s story.

However, her recent visit to Watford General Hospital confirmed her view that there is plenty more to do when it comes to raising awareness.

She said: "I was aware I wanted to create a cause because so many people don’t know what EDS is.

"A GP popped in to see me on Friday and said as a practice they are attempting to learn more about it as a practice.

"When I was in A&E on Thursday some of the staff knew what it was but others asked me if I was speaking Spanish so there is still plenty of work to do."

But the mother-of four has been left very proud of the maturity Ben has shown throughout.

"Ben was excited, in the morning he said ‘I can’t wait for the presentation’, at first I didn’t know what he was talking about," she said.

"He is very mature for his age and I am very proud of how he has handled this."