Stranger raises £12k for boy to have life changing surgery

A stranger was so moved by a boy who could only see the world upside down that they raised money for him to have corrective surgery. Thanks to a rare muscular condition that made his neck muscles too weak to hold up his head, he was in desperate need of help.

Julie Jones read about 12-year-old Mahendra Ahirwar online and said that as a mum, she wasn’t able to forget his story. So she decided to do something about it. She started a crowdfunding page and managed to raise £12,000 to strengthen his neck.

The story was documented in a recent documentary on Channel 5 called ‘The Boy Who Sees Upside Down’

Julie said: ‘While everyone was looking to help, no one was actually doing anything. So there and then, I got out my laptop, found a crowdfunding website and created an account.’ Soon she had raised enough to pay for surgery and even flew to Delhi to meet Ahirwar.

Florence and the Machine perform hospital duet

A 15-year-old girl who was unable to attend a Florence and the Machine gig in Texas due to an illness, was surprised when her favourite artist turned up in hospital to see her, bringing the concert with her.

Florence and band mate Rob Ackroyd visited Austin’s Christopher House Hospice and sang for the girl. A spokesperson for the hospice said: ‘The room was full; full of joy and warmth and love and life and singing. Thank you, Florence!’

A video of the impromptu performance also went viral. The band is currently in the middle of their ‘How Beautiful’ Tour in North America.

Good news stories make a refreshing alternative to all the bad news and crises that we hear in the regular news. We’ll keep bringing you all the happiest news stories about good deeds, including people raising money for good causes and facilities such as evac chairs.

We’ll be back next month with more of the best news stories from around the world. Until then, keep smiling and sending out good thoughts.