Celebrity sports stars have joined hundreds of people who have sent messages of support to an 11-year-old boy who lost a finger while fleeing bullies.
His mother, Chantal Bailey, said Rahim Bailey was beaten by a group of children at the school.
He tried to escape, but his right finger was caught climbing the fence, and he later had to amputate.
She said Rahim had faced “racial and physical abuse” since starting secondary school in South Wales in September.
The family has received an outpouring of support since Bailey described her son’s plight on a GoFundMe page she set up last week to support his recovery, which amounted to more than £90,000 in donations by Sunday.
Boxer Anthony Joshua and footballers Jadon Sancho and Ashley Williams have sent private messages of support through Billy’s Instagram.
Bailey said Rahim had also received messages from football director and former Tottenham player Chris Hughton, commentator Gary Neville and Olympic cyclist K White.
She added that NBA player Gerald Green, who was a massive hit with Nine Fingers, put out a call to speak to Rahim directly.
“Here a lot of people in different places were very generous, and I wasn’t expecting what happened, so I’m really grateful for that,” she said.
Describing what happened to Rahim, she said: “While he was climbing, he was wearing a ring and his ring was attached to the fence and his finger was also torn off.
Twice Heavyweight Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua
absolute torment
“Basically, he was running away because he was too tired to be picked every day.”
Bailey said her son was “really brave” and was “in a lot of pain”.
“All time [he was] He says to me: I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Mom. I couldn’t, I couldn’t stay there, so why wouldn’t anyone love me? “
About his condition now, she said, “Sometimes he’s so frustrated and I have to talk to him and make him understand that no matter what, I’ll be there.”
But, she added, the support “really put smiles on his face” and “made him raise his head.”
She also said the messages he’s received mean a lot, with people telling him “how strong he is and it doesn’t matter to him.”
£90,000 in donations has been raised for Raheem Bailey. Pic: gofundme
Speaking about the broader issue of bullying and racism in schools, she said, “Why should I send my child to school to be a punching bag?”
“I just don’t understand, there’s something to be done, I think it needs a conversation.”
“It’s hard, as a mother, to tell your child that people may not like you because of your skin – not because you are mean, not because you are awful, but only because of the skin he was born with,” she said, sobbing.
The Welsh government said: “We condemn bullying and racist harassment in any form and expect schools to fully investigate allegations and incidents of bullying and racism, with appropriate measures in place to address the matter and prevent further cases.”
