Comedian Russell Kane has shown his support for a campaign to secure a life-changing piece of equipment for a Suffolk teenager.

Dayna Fitzgerald, 16, of Brandon, lives with various conditions including mitochondrial disorder - complex 3 and Bjornstad syndrome.

The teenager, a pupil at The Riverwalk School, Bury St Edmunds, is non-verbal, unable to walk and is tube-fed, dealing with gastroesophageal reflux and constipation. 

In the summer, she had the chance to trial an Innowalk machine, a piece of equipment that helps those unable to walk to feel the benefits of movement, and her family has now launched a £28,447 fundraiser to fund one themselves so she can use it daily. 

On Thursday, stand-up comedian and writer Russell Kane, who has also presented TV shows including Big Brother's Big Mouth in 2007 and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here - Now from 2009 to 2011, shared the link to Dayna's fundraiser on his Instagram page. 

Russell Kane has backed a family in Brandon who are trying to raise money for life-changing equipment for their daughter DaynaRussell Kane has backed a family in Brandon who are trying to raise money for life-changing equipment for their daughter Dayna (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)Posting on his story, he wrote: "This beautiful soul has a condition which can be much improved with just a little bit of our generosity."

A £300 donation in his name also appeared on the fundraiser page on Thursday evening. 

Darren Fitzgerald, Dayna's father, said: "We feel over the moon. Everybody was excited, I had everyone on the phone to me and Whatsapp-ing me about it.

"He really is a nice guy. What he has done there for my daughter, I am just so over the moon with. I can't thank him enough." 

Mr Fitzgerald said that he lost his son Cavan in 2020 to mitochondrial disease, leaving him determined to do all he can for Dayna. 

Dayna Fitzgerald, 16, of BrandonDayna Fitzgerald, 16, of Brandon (Image: Darren Fitzgerald) Of his daughter, he said: "She may not talk, but she is so, so sociable. She loves everybody and anybody and she is so happy." 

The fundraiser for the Innowalk has now reached £1,200 - the family need to raise £28,447.

Mr Fitzgerald asks that anyone with any fundraising ideas or businesses who are happy to get involved could email him on darrenfit13@gmail.com.