MORE than £20,000 has now been raised in memory of an inspirational youngster who died after defying the odds for two years.
Three-year-old William Furlong had a condition which affected his brain and left him blind and suffering epileptic fits.
His parents, Sean and Alison, were originally told he would not live long past his first birthday.
William, who lived with his parents and sisters, Olivia, seven, and Niamh, six, in a specially adapted home in Mickleover, lost his battle for life in June.
He also spent a lot of time receiving care at Rainbows Hospice at Loughborough and his parents and their friends have vowed to raise money for Rainbows.
Now, after an anonymous £1,000 donation, their fund-raising total has surpassed £20,000. And, this weekend, Sean and Alison are going to add to it further when they take part in an abseil from Derby Cathedral.
Alison said she was thrilled to have raised so much money but was now looking forward to adding to it.
She said: "Me and Sean decided to do the abseil before William passed away.
"I turned 40 in December and it's a big birthday so I wanted to do something special.
"Rainbows is a very special place close to our hearts so we wanted to give it a go.
"Sean is terrified of heights but that has not stopped us.
"They were so great with William, we always wanted to give something back."
Sixteen employees from Pektron in Alfreton Road, Derby, are taking part in the abseil.
The workers, ranging from directors, managers, supervisors and shop-floor workers, will be in two teams, Pektron Peregrines and Pektron Plummeters.
They want to support Rainbows and raise £3,500.
Manufacturing director Ian Harpham said: "We were inspired by a visit from William Furlong and his mother who gave us a moving account of William's special needs and how Rainbows supported him and his family.
"Sadly William passed away shortly after the visit and we are doing our abseil in his memory."
Paula North, community fund-raising manager for Rainbows in Derbyshire, said: "I would like to thank Pektron for taking part and for supporting Rainbows.
"They are doing a wonderful thing in raising funds to help us run the hospice."
Daredevils can abseil from the 212ft or 65 metre-high tower on Saturday and Sunday, with time slots also on Saturday evening.
To donate, visit William's fund-raising page at www.justgiving.com/William-Furlong.
