The parents of Karis May Darling have given £2,100 from KMD Variety Show profits towards a Corringham girl who needed a ‘football wheelchair.’

Stars including Che Chesterman, Youth Creation and Alien came together on July 9 to entertain 4,500 people who turned out on the day.

John Darling, 50, of Garden Avenue, who set up the Karis May Darling Foundation with wife Kerri after losing their beloved daughter Karis May to meningitis age 12, said: “It was a fantastic day and it felt even more fantastic to give help Sally McNeill achieve her dream.

"The reason we chose Sally is because she wanted her wheelchair to play sport.

"Helping local children to successfully play sports is what we are all about!”

Sally McNeill, 18, of Martins Close, who plays premier league powerchair football for team Evergreen said: “I can't thank them enough.

"We needed another £1800 to reach our target of £9000 and John and the KMD foundation gave it to us following the KMD day.

"This allowed us to order the new chair and be able to use it at the start of the new season.”

Her mum Karen McNeill, 53, added: "We're absolutely delighted. We couldn’t have got to the finishing line so quickly without the help we've had.

"Sally's now got the powerchair, we have had it imported from the USA, and Sally can't stop beaming."

The Karis May Community Centre in Corringham, which offers free classes and services to children from around the borough, opened up in 2014.

Mr Darling, who added: “Most of all, we couldn’t do it without our volunteers – the level of effort put in by families is unbelievable. They just keep giving and giving. We live in a great community.”