A ball to help a Silsden teenager paralysed in a rugby match has been hailed a great success

The event at Skipton’s Rendez-vous Hotel was staged to raise cash for the Nathan Cubitt Trust, which collects funds to pay for the 18-year-old’s ongoing care. Nathan broke his neck during a match in November 2011, and now uses a motorised wheelchair to get around.

His mum, Sue, said: “I think it went really well – we didn’t sell out but we did have a good turnout.

“We had a meal, raffles, leg-waxing, an auction of rugby-related items and music by The Big Party Band, who were absolutely fantastic – very highly recommended.

“I’m not sure yet how much we’ve collected, but this wasn’t just about the money. It was also about keeping the trust itself in the public eye and raising its profile. The venue was perfect and we’d like to hold the event again, maybe with a different theme next time.”

Among the guests on Saturday night were Blackburn-based teen George Claxton, who suffered serious spinal injuries while playing in a rugby game for his home town last year.

He and his father, Andrew, were invited to the ball as George and Nathan (above) have previously been in touch and wanted to meet face-to-face.

Nathan’s family have been extensively adapting their home to make it more accessible for him, and last Thursday they had a lift installed, which meant he was able to go upstairs for the first time in 21 months.

Mrs Cubitt said: “The lift is fantastic. It goes up to Nathan’s living area from the kitchen, and he can use it on his own. He said it was ‘awesome’ to go upstairs for the first time in all these months.”

The Keighley News revealed last week how the family’s dream £11,500 holiday to America in November is in jeopardy because they can’t secure insurance for Nathan, even though he has a nurse travelling with him.

But Mrs Cubitt said since the article appeared, people have contacted her to recommend organisations catering for disabled people needing this form of insurance. She’s now hopeful the trip-of-a-lifetime can go ahead.

“It’s been very positive and I want to thank everyone who has responded,” she said.