A mystery benefactor has donated an iPad to a five-year-old autistic boy he has never met.
Last week The Courier launched an appeal to help little Cameron Mackenzie from Carnoustie, who is classed as non-verbal and has the speech capabilities of a 12 to 18-month-old toddler.
The youngster’s mother Farrah, 36, who lost £23,000 in the housing crash, pleaded for public support after seeing how a new online programme could benefit her son.
Cameron had shown good progress with communication skills after trying a Makaton sign-language app on Farrah’s brother’s device and the family were keen to get their own tablet through a scheme that involves collecting 185 unwanted phones as a swap deal.
However, just a few days after their appeal went live, an anonymous stranger handed over an iPad at the collection point in the town.
Farrah said she and husband Graham, 35, were overwhelmed by the generous act.
She added: “Miracles do really happen. My cousin and her husband, who own Sturrock Computers, delivered a brand new iPad to our door for Cam.
“It was handed into the shop anonymously by a man who said he wanted to help Cam. What this man has done for my boy goes beyond any words.”
After the family lost their financial security they simply didn’t have the money to pay for such an expensive product on their own.
The Makaton app is designed for people with impairments and Farrah believes the tool will have a major impact on her son, who has just started school at Carlogie Primary in the town.
She said: “If you are the samaritan who has given my son a chance of life, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Farrah and Graham run a group on Facebook called Autism Support Angus and Dundee and are linked up to many other initiatives.
It was through those connections that they learned of the Hearts and Minds Challenge iPad Scheme, which accepts most mobile phones under 10 years old.
The couple, who live in Isla Avenue and also have three-year-old twins Craig and Freya to provide for, said any mobiles handed in will now be donated to another family.
Farrah said: “There are many other families out there following our footsteps with the phones for iPad appeal, so Cam’s phones are going to them as they too have autism.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped us, anyone wishing to hand in phones can continue to drop them off at Sturrock Computers, Carnoustie.”