KIND-hearted pupils at a Kendal school are pulling together to help give something back to one of their own.

Ella Dixon, a 12-year-old Queen Katherine School pupil with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), has helped raise more than £50,000 to fund research into the condition.

Now, sixth form pupils at her school want to raise money to help give Ella more independence.

"In order to allow Ella to get her independence back and get a chance to feel more like a teenager, we are trying to raise as much as possible to reach our target of £5,660 for an all-terrain wheelchair," said Tara Curran, one of the sixth form pupils helping raise the money.

Ella is believed to be one of only five girls in the country with her Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which results in muscle degeneration. It is a condition which usually affects boys.

To come up with the money, the students are holding a dance performance as well as an auction on the Facebook page 'Silent Auction for Ella' on June 24. They have already secured a raft of prizes from local businesses.

These include an overnight stay at The Gilpin Lake House with dinner and matched wines at the Michelin star HRiSHi, paintballing passes for 25 people and afternoon tea at The Castle Green Hotel, Kendal.

Ella's father, Craig, said he was full of admiration for the pupils as they looked to help his daughter.

"They approached us because Ella has now got to an age where she wants her independence," he said.

"It's nice somebody has taken the time to think of her. The sixth formers at the school have created this fundraising team and they've obviously got wind of Ella as they approached us to help her.

"When she starts doing longer distances she will need this all-terrain wheelchair and this will make a huge difference to her."

Visit www.facebook.com/QKS000/ for more details of the auction and a full list of prizes.