THREE fundraising events are set to take place this year to help a family raise £9000 to buy an assisted dog for their autistic child.

DAFFERS (Down Ampney Fun & Fundraising Entertainment Recreation Society) will be staging a race night on (April 20), a barn dance (June 16) and the grand raffle draw on October 20 where a celebrity guest will conduct the draw.

£700 has already been raised but the family are targeting £1,500 for a deposit in April followed by £3,500 by the end of the year and the final balance by next May.

Eddie Wheeler, 6, has a form of autism Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) which sees him struggle with all the normal difficulties that autism brings all the normal difficulties that Autism brings but additionally he suffers with severe anxiety which pushes him into his freeze, fight or flight reflex whenever he is asked to do something or perceive a demand.

Dogs have provided a calming presence to Eddie and he's able to relax around them which emphasises how a dog can dramatically change Eddie's and his families ever day lives.

DAFFERS are a non-profit organisation who plan and host events at the Down Ampney village hall to generate funds for worthy causes in the area.

Tickets for events can be purchased from Down Ampney village shop, priced at £6 for the race night. Anyone who wishes to donate a raffle prize should email davidljob@btinternet.com or Paul Vince paulvince@btinternet.com.