A FATHER says he is concerned attention drawn to a hotel’s decision to cancel a fund-raising event has overshadowed his bid to raise funds to help his unwell son.

Lee Stallard’s eight-year-old boy Jay suffers from the rare condition retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a genetic disorder affecting the retina which can ultimately lead to blindness.

There is currently no treatment available, so Mr Stallard and his wife Heather are supporting the organisation RP Fighting Blindness, which is funding research into possible cures, including stem cell and genetic therapies.

But, as the Gazette reported last week, his plans for a fund-raising event ran into trouble when the venue he had booked – the Mount Pleasant Hotel – cancelled after researching his guest speaker, the celebrity former football hooligan Jason Marriner. The hotel also expressed concern about a reference to the BNP on Mr Stallard’s own Facebook page and he is now concerned people will form the wrong impression of him.

“I’m worried everyone now thinks I am a football hooligan and a racist, neither of which could be further from the truth,”

he said. “I am not a member of the BNP and I don’t support any of the racist part of it whatsoever.

I just agree with some of their economic policies.”

He continued: “I am worried this has reflected badly on me and my family, and that it has detracted attention from my efforts to help my son.”

Mr Stallard believes he has found an alternative venue for the fund-raiser on Saturday, June 2.

He hopes to include a raffle in the evening and is looking for any local businesses who would like to support this to get in touch. For more details, e-mail lsdecorating3@gmail.com.