THE story of a nine-year-old girl suffering from a muscle-wasting disease has captured the imagination of her community.

Since Carrieanne North set up the ‘Carrie on fighting fund’ four months ago, she has raised almost £3,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, a charity that supports the condition she was diagnosed with two years ago.

Carrieanne lives on Edge Green Lane in Golborne and has a form of congenital myopathy, an incurable condition which means she is in constant pain and her ability to move for long periods of time is restricted.

Her dad Mark said: “It has been absolutely amazing. We have had people calling us up asking to do a skydive for us, we have an auction closing on Friday for a Europa League ball and a signed Johnny Vegas book.

“We have had Coronation Street stars tweeting us with pictures of them wearing Carrie on wristbands. It has just been non-stop.

“She has been a mascot for Wigan Athletic and the club has completely got behind her. They are donating all the money from their Christmas do to the fund and James McClean has become an ambassador.

“Some of the bigger things we plan to hold are not until next year and it is already looking like we are going to break the £3,000 mark by Christmas. There are so many generous people out there, it is unbelievable.”

While the Golborne Community School pupil’s fundraising is going from strength to strength, Carrieanne and her younger sisters Courtney and Cathryn have also been given a treat.

The Butterflies Children Charity donates money to disadvantaged or disabled children and after reading about Carrieanne they decided to help and presented Carrieanne and her sisters with £50 each.

Mark said: “It’s just another example of people’s generosity. The girls have brought each other Christmas presents with the money they were given from Butterflies.”

For more information on how to help visit www.carrieon-fighting.com.