A BOXING enthusiast with an extremely rare muscular condition will be climbing a mountain later this year to raise money for a new wheelchair.

Charlie Dawson, from Moredon, has outgrown his wheelchair and wants to buy a new state-of-the-art model which is bigger, lighter and has off-road capabilities and powered steering.

This new wheelchair would stop him being restricted to the pavement when he goes outside and would ease the strain on his shoulders from pushing the chair manually - but it costs £10,500.

Despite only recently recovering from having two major brain surgeries in two weeks, Charlie wanted to do something himself to raise the money after friends and family offered to pitch in and help.

He suffers from a very rare combination of muscular disorders: paroxysmol non-kinesogenic choreoathetosis and dystonia, which cause painful involuntary full-body spasms, and ataxia, which affects his speech, balance and co-ordination.

A neuro-stimulator was fitted inside his skull when he was younger to stop the spasms, which he used to have 80 times a day, then it was repaired last month.

Charlie, 22, said: "I was petrified, it was really hard."

His mum, Jackie, said: "Each time he went in for surgery, the risks were higher.

"The last time he had the surgery, he started talking about what items go to who if the worst happened, it broke my heart."

Now he's decided to climb 886m-high Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons in September with a team of friends to raise some of the money

Charlie said: "I've always wanted to do it, it's a big challenge."

Jackie was proud but a little concerned when he first told her about his decision.

She said: "It came as a bit of a shock and I did try to persuade him not to because Pen Y Fan would be a massive feat for someone like him, but he's a determined kid.

"It's going to be hard but Charlie's a very well-liked member of the community and he said he's not going to let everyone do everything for him."

His dad Kevin explained how much the new wheelchair would benefit his son.

He said: "He can come over the fields when we walk the dog, he can go on the beach, it would enable him to do stuff that he wouldn't normally be able to do."

Charlie volunteers as a boxing coach at Scrapper's Gym twice a week and it's been a lifeline for him and his family.

It's where he met his girlfriend Hope and has made good friends there who are now organising several events to fundraise for him.

Kevin added: "It's made such a big difference to his posture and confidence, we saw an immediate change when he started there."

Hope said: "This challenge scares the life out of me but he has his mind set on it and won't be told otherwise, he doesn't let his condition limit himself."

To donate, call Jackie on 07545 879804.