ABERDEEN – The Muslim community in Aberdeen has come together to raise money needed to save a young boy who needs a life-changing operation, in a positive gesture of unity in the port city in northeast Scotland.

“I was showing them the story in the paper and everybody agreed we had to help him as much as we can,” Aberdeen city councilor Tauqeer Malik told Evening Express on Friday, December 9.

Lewis Fraser, from Kintore, was born 16 days overdue by Caesarean section.

Suffering from a lack of oxygen during the labor, he had to have his heart restarted twice. He now has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and suffers from pain in his legs and is unable to walk unaided.

His mum Sarah, 29, and dad Graeme, 34, along with Lewis’ brothers Caleb, 3, and Aaron, 2, launched a crowdfunding effort to raise the £65,000 needed to take Lewis to America for an operation he is unable to get in the UK, which could enable him to walk.

Councilor Malik was alerted to the plight of eight-year-old Lewis in the Evening Express by a friend and was inspired to take action.

His friend Latif Choudry asked Cllr Malik if anything could be done to help.

Cllr Malik’s initial target of £2,000 was easily surpassed as Lewis’ story touched the hearts of more and more people.

“I would encourage everybody to come forward and help Lewis Fraser as much as they can,” he said.

“If 55,000 people in Aberdeen donated £1 each it would be enough for Lewis to get the operation.”

Receiving the cheque from Cllr Malik, Sarah said she was stunned when she learned of the donation.

“I was a bit overwhelmed and I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“It’s a lot of money. I didn’t expect everyone to come together like they have and do so much for him, especially at this time of year.”