by Hayley Robinson

hrobinson@thekmgroup.co.uk
A young boy who was blinded in one eye in a freak accident is smiling again thanks to his football-playing chums.
Louis Helder , 11, lost the sight in his left eye in December. Doctors have been unable to repair the damage.
In an effort to cheer him up the Real 60 Lynx under-10s football team, based in Borstal, held a sponsored penalty shoot to raise the £400 needed to go on a school trip to Disneyland Paris in July.
The Greenacre School pupil had been on his way to class with a group of friends on December 17 when the accident took place.
He felt faint and in a bid to steady himself he grabbed hold of a spiked metal fence but fell forward and sliced his eye open before tumbling backwards and hitting his head on the pavement.
Louis’ friends picked him up and carried him into school where staff called for an ambulance.
He was taken to Maidstone Hospital and had an operation.
He remained in hospital and had a second operation on Christmas Eve but sadly doctors were unable to save his sight.
Mum Kelly White, of Myrtle Crescent, Chatham, said: “I just can’t believe how brave he has been.
“It’s only been four to five months since it happened but he’s already back doing the things he was doing before. He really has amazed me.
“It’s hard being a mum – you have to be strong for them as well as yourself
so when he was asleep I did my crying.
“Louis’ nan asked the team to raise the money so he could go on the trip because the operations happened over Christmas so it wasn’t a good one.
“I just want to say a big thank you to Real 60 for what they’ve done so he can go on the holiday.”
Louis is now counting the days down until he goes to Disneyland.
He said: “I’m coping and not had much trouble adjusting.
“I go out and play with my friends and go fishing with my cousins.
“My school also got me a laptop as the computer screens are too bright for my eye.
“I’m just really looking forward to going on the school trip.”