A BUBBLY little girl from Corfe Mullen with muscular dystrophy has inspired local businesses to raise funds for a special wheelchair.

Kaitlin Moors, aged three, has Central Core Disease (CCD), a condition which has left her almost too weak to move her arms and legs.

Doctors were baffled by the occurrence of the hereditary condition in Kaitlin. There is no history of CCD in the families of her parents, Dave and Helen.

Necessity has become the driving force behind the advancement of Kaitlin's speech. Where most toddlers grab or point to what they want, Kaitlin must ask.

"If a child at nursery takes a toy she is playing with, she says, You are going to give that back, aren't you?'" laughed Dave.

But like all young children, Kaitlin is keen to do things for herself. A recent loan of a motorised wheelchair allowed her to take her proper place at the family dinner table.

"She was able to interact at the same height and look people in the eye. She was soon barking out orders," Dave joked.

Motorised wheelchairs can cost up to £5000 and Dave has had to give up work to give Katilin round-the-clock care.

Staff at local businesses have been touched by Kaitlin's visits and are helping to raise money for the chair she needs.

Two Corfe Mullen branches of the Co-Op are organising a sponsored sea-front walk from Sandbanks to Bournemouth Pier and back.

The Hamworthy Club on Queen Anne Drive has held a raffle in support of the tot's chair fund. For more information on how to help raise funds for Kaitlin, email moors.dave@googlemail.com.