A LITTLE boy was amazed when his back-garden goal scoring fundraiser netted hundreds of pounds for charity – before he had even kicked a ball.

On Saturday, four-year-old Leon Leadbetter from Saltdean will attempt to score 20 goals for the charity Blind Veterans, which helps visually impaired ex-servicemen and women.

But he has already raised almost £300 – and was overcome when donors helped him smash his original £100 target in a single day.

His mother Abigail Leadbetter, 30, has just started working at Blind Veterans UK in Ovingdean, where she helps managers in the rehabilitation centre.

She said: “When Mummy told him what her new job was, he said he wanted to help too.

The Argus:

"We explained that he could do something fun and ask people to donate money to help the members of Blind Veterans UK and he’s set himself the challenge of scoring 20 goals.

"He is such a kind, charitable boy. We’ve always tried to instil that in him.”

Leon has been practising in the back garden for weeks now. His record so far is 16 goals, but he’s hoping to surpass that at the weekend, scoring goal after goal in a miniature net defended by his two-year-old brother Logan.

Leon said he was “really excited”. His father David has been helping him train for an hour every day.

Abigail said: “We’re making the most of having the family together during the lockdown.

“Leon is missing his friends and his grandparents but he’s loving spending all this time playing football in the garden.

“All charities are struggling through these uncertain times and any little helps. So please if you can spare any money to support a very special charity and put a big smile on a little boy’s face, we will be very grateful.”

You can donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leon-leadbetter

• The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund