Andover businesses have rallied behind a local councillor’s fundraising campaign for a severely epileptic boy.

As previously reported in the Advertiser, Cllr Iris Andersen has been walking laps of her local cricket pitch to raise money for Toby Pearce, who needs a new wheelchair.

Her work has inspired residents and local businesses alike, who have donated money and goods in order to help bring Toby’s wheelchair even closer.

Dessert café Canto Gelato has donated £250 to Iris, as well as a £50 voucher, while C. J. Flooring has donated £100.

Canto Gelato’s owners, Steve and Kelly Jones, said they are “so, so proud of the hard work Iris has put in, and we are proud to be able to donate and help.”

Burgo’s Pet World, meanwhile, has come up with an innovative fundraising solution, offering visitors to its new aquatic centre the opportunity to feed its Koi for £1 on Saturdays.

This initiative that raised £45 for Toby in its first week, and will continue to for a month, when a new charity will take over. In addition to this scheme, Burgo’s Pet World also contributed £100 to the campaign.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Richie Burgess said that Burgo’s was “always trying to do small stuff for charity.”

“Feeding fish is good for the kids,” he said, “so we thought, why not do it for charity? With all the work Iris does, we’re glad to support her.”

Hildon’s Water contributed two crates of its water to the campaign, as well as flasks, a t-shirt and a Lifestyle Card, which Cllr Andersen hopes will raise £100 or so.

In addition, an anonymous donor has given £1,000 to the campaign, pushing the fundraiser within £5,000 of its target - £4,619 at the last count.

Iris told the Advertiser that the support of local businesses, and residents, was “absolutely fantastic.”

“Their support has been great,” she said. “My heart goes out to them, they’ve had three months of lockdown and they’re still supporting me, they’re still supporting Toby.”

Having already passed her 200-lap target, Cllr Andersen is continuing to walk two to three laps of the cricket pitch each day to get the fundraiser to its goal.

Toby’s mother, Gemma Pearce, said that she was “unbelievably grateful” to all the donors, big and small, and has just had Toby remeasured for his wheelchair so that everything is prepared once the fundraiser is complete.

“I fully appreciate there is pressure on everyone at the moment,” she said, “but we just need to keep going. It’s still a lot of money, but we’re a lot closer now, and I’m much less apprehensive about reaching this target now.”

Anyone who wishes to contribute money to Toby’s fundraising campaign can click here to head to the fundraising page