A TULLIBODY family have been overwhelmed by the support of friends, family and the community as they raised funds for a special bike for their daughter.

A talent night was held in Cowie Miners Welfare to help Jacqui and Barry Wardrop purchase a bespoke bicycle for their daughter Jenna (7) who has Down's Syndrome.

Jacqui told the Advertiser, "She has wanted her own pink bike for a long time. We have had three bikes in the past but they were all totally unsuitable.

"Jenna has low muscle tone mainly in her lower legs and she doesn't have the strength to push the pedals round and the seat gives her a problem.

"As a family we would like to go out and cycle but Jenna is too big to go in a chair on the back of a bike.

"But, the main reason for getting her a bike is to give her the independence and freedom every other child has." Da Vinci Mobility make a hand powered model of bike that is suitable for Jenna and having given it a go the youngster found it was perfect for her.

The bike has now been ordered and the family hope to have it delivered before Christmas.

The fundraising night, which attracted around 180 people, included a talent show and five brave lads having their chests and legs waxed.

Two of those, Dennis McGrath and Martin Milroy, lost some of their hair to the dreaded sticky strip slightly later than originally planned.

Jacqui said, "They had offered seven years ago when Jenna was born to get waxed if Jenna needed anything, little did they know I'd hold them to their word.

"We thought we would need to do a couple of nights or a sponsored run to raise the money but we have made up the sum already" She added, "We have been blown away with the support and I want to say thankyou to everybody who has helped us. It has been fantastic." The family would like to thank all the local businesses and individuals for their generous donations. In particular their friends Gena, Emma, Tracy and Granny Agnes who rallied round organising and collecting the items.