A Rawdon teenager who has had half his brain removed is to go on a sponsored walk to raise money for the hospital department which helped him to recover.

Mark Shaw had to have the right side of his brain taken out eight years ago after a rare virus caused inflammation and left him severely disabled down one side.

The 15-year-old Guiseley School pupil, who plans to take his GCSEs next year, cannot walk long distances without a wheelchair, is unable to use his left arm and is partially sighted.

Now plucky Mark is set to repay years of intensive therapy by doing a sponsored walk around Yeadon Tarn tomorrow at 2pm to raise vital funds for the Child Therapy Unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

Health chiefs are campaigning to raise enough money to give the unit, which is currently painted plain white, a colourful facelift. They plan to paint a number of 'jungle' murals to liven up the area and make it a more pleasant environment for youngsters.

They also aim to buy more equipment for the unit and improve the hydrotherapy pool.

According to Mark's mum, Janice, the teenager wanted to help out the appeal after spending so much time there.

She said: "When he was younger he didn't like going there. Hopefully the murals will improve that area dramatically because it is cold-looking and not very friendly for youngsters. Mark used to get very bored there, but the murals will change all that.

"Mark has spent 11 years at the unit, undergoing all sorts of therapy there. It's a shame that these improvements did not happen earlier."

Mark has been attending the unit since his problems first surfaced when he was just four years old. The youngster, who lives in Hill Crescent, Rawdon, suffered from 30 to 200 fits a day and had the operation to remove the right side of his brain a day after his seventh birthday. He now has fits only occasionally.

Mark has so far managed to raise £280 in promised sponsorship.

Mrs Shaw added: "Walking around Yeadon Tarn may not sound much to most people, but it's quite a long distance for Mark. We will have to bring his wheelchair along and he will have to stop and rest in it every so often because he has a lot of difficulty walking."

Anyone willing to make a donation is welcome to go to the tarn on the day or can alternatively contact reporter John Baron at the Wharfedale offices on (01943) 465555.

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