A 12-YEAR-old boy from Redditch was given a school leaving prom to remember, after an online appeal asking bikers to join his convoy went viral.

Wesley Downes, who is in Year 8 at Woodfield Academy, provides great support to his mom Kayleigh in caring for his 10-year-old sister Jaiden, who has complex special needs.

His caring role and low self-esteem put him off joining his classmates at his leaving prom on July 20, but his mom was determined to see him go and enjoy the day.

With the help of family and friends, Wesley was convinced to ride into the prom on a motorbike – and a viral Facebook appeal soon ensured he was given a day to remember.

Mom Kayleigh Phillips, 30, explained: “He did not want to go to the prom as he has been really down at the minute because of caring for his sister.

“She has got complex special needs and she can be a real challenge. He loves her to bits but it really impacts him.

“I had a think about a way to make the prom special for him and suggested him going on a motorbike with my friend David Wood and he was really into it.

“My sister Sian Styler shared an online appeal for bikers to join him and it just blew up with hundreds of likes and 700 shares from people in Redditch and beyond.

“It turned out a boy in his school called Josh Mould was going and his dad Simon was a member of biking group Speed Freakz who got hundreds of bikers to join them.”

Community spirit saw more than 100 bikers join the convoy for Wesley and Josh, which started at McDonalds in Moons Moat, to ensure they arrived to their prom in style.

Kayleigh added: “We could not have anticipated how many people were going to turn up. I was absolutely ecstatic and I felt like I was going to cry.

“The community spirit has been amazing. Wesley was absolutely chuffed. He is a quiet kid but he was really overwhelmed. It has not only made Wesley’s day, but his year.

“He made a point of going to see all the bikers before they left and thanked them for joining him. I am so chuffed for him. He is just a brilliant big brother and deserves this.”