"I have a right as a mum not to want to wake up every day and the first thing on my to do list is to check my little boy is still breathing’

The mother of a 10-year-old boy who needs a £300,000 lifesaving brain operation has thanked the people of Derry for their support. Billy Caldwell (pictured) suffers from severe epilepsy and has daily seizures, any one of which could end his life. With the NHS (National Health Service) unable to offer him any treatment, Billy's mother Charlotte has taken him from their home in Castlederg to Los Angeles, where he is currently being assessed for brain surgery. They have now been in America for five weeks and as each night in hospital costs $14,800 the bills are quickly mounting up. Local teenager Orlagh Wilson is spearheading the Derry campaign to raise money for Billy by selling ribbons, doing bucket collections and running a car boot sale. Charlotte said she was "overwhelmed" at the support they have received from the city so far. "People in Derry have been so kind and thoughtful," she said. "I have been overwhelmed by it and I am so thankful for it. "But we desperately need to keep at it. "My little boy has a right to life and a right to lead a normal wee life like other children and not to be going to bed at night with fear in his eyes, thinking that if he takes a seizure he might not wake up in the morning. "I want my little boy to live, "I have a right as a mum not to want to wake up every day and the first thing on my to do list is to check my little boy is still breathing." Local teenager Grace McIlwaine is shaving off her waist length hair at a fundraiser for Billy this Saturday night at the Bready Cricket Club. The 16-year-old, whose mum Sharon is a friend Charlotte, decided to sacrifice her 20 inch locks when she met Billy before he went to America. "It was only the second time he had met her and he put her his arms round her neck and climbed up on top of her," said Grace. "She said to me in the car after 'I'm going to shave my head for Billy'. "I'm just totally impressed by her. It's such a nice thing for anyone to want to do, especially at 16." Grace's hair will be donated to the 'Little Princess Trust' to make wigs for girls who have lost their hair. If you would like to donate money to the "Keep Billy Alive" campaign text 'keep81 £3' to 70070. You can also find out more about the campaign on the 'Keep Billy Alive' Facebook page. The fundraiser, which will be compered by popular Derry personality Mickey Doherty, takes place this Saturday at Bready Cricket Club in Magheramason. Doors open at 9.00pm.