A YOUNG boy who was diagnosed with diabetes has collected money to support the hospital which treated him.

Ronnie Hearnshaw, 10, was diagnosed with type one diabetes in January and was cared for on Airedale's Children's Ward.

Since then his fundraising efforts have generated enough cash to equip the children's ward with new video game equipment for its patients.

Ronnie said he was inspired to give something back by the care he received from the ward's staff.

He said: “When I was on the ward I was scared, tired, bored and worried - but I also had time where I enjoyed myself because the staff were amazing.

"They were fun and wanted me to get better.

“The day I got there they asked me if I liked video games, and the next thing I knew they'd brought me a really old TV and a PlayStation 3 to my bed for me to play on. It made me forget I was poorly for a while.

“I have a Nintendo Switch at home so my dad brought it in for me to play the next day, though I still used the PlayStation too.

“When I was well enough to go home, I realised it would be so good for the children’s unit to have a Nintendo Switch so kids like me can get the same feeling I did."

Ronnie and his family, of Oakworth, Keighley, set up a Just Giving fundraising page to raise money to buy a Nintendo Switch games console which normally costs around £300. The fundraising was so successful they were able to afford two consoles for the hospital.

After learning of this via social media, a Scottish charity called Get Well Gamers offered to help out.

The charity, which accepts donations of consoles and games to distribute to hospitals across the country, offered to match the donation, bringing two more Switch consoles plus other games and accessories to the children's ward.

Niain Craw, head of social media for Get Well Gamers, said: “Hospital can be a scary place, especially if you’re a child, so anything we can do to help bring a slice of normality to the situation can only be a positive thing.

“We're delighted to be able to help out, and hope the consoles are put to good use.”

Karen Reece, play leader at Airedale's children’s ward, said: “Thank you so much to Ronnie and his family, and Get Well Gamers for their generous donation.

"Any children and teenagers we have on the ward will be excited to use these brilliant consoles.

“We're hoping to create a teenage room on the ward, which will be a chill-out space with games and things to do for older children. The Nintendo Switch consoles will be put to use in here, as well as at children’s bedsides.”

Airedale has advised parents of children and young people who might have type one diabetes to get a quick diagnosis and early treatment.

Parents and carers should watch out for the "Four Ts", which are: Toilet – Going to the toilet a lot, bed wetting by a previously dry child or heavier nappies in babies; Thirsty – Being really thirsty and not being able to quench the thirst; Tired – Feeling more tired than usual; Thinner – Losing weight or looking thinner than usual.