A BRAVE schoolboy has used lockdown to raise money for a charity that has supported him – earning support from the Royal Family and Spider-Man along the way.

Mason White decided to set himself the task of completing a challenge which is good for his health every day in aid of DEBRA UK, the national charity that supports individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

Eleven-year-old Mason has the most severe form of the rare genetic skin condition, which means his skin blisters and tears both internally and externally under only the slightest touch.

His efforts over recent weeks caught the eye of royalty in the form of Sophie, HRH Countess of Wessex, and also secured a sizeable donation from Spider-Man star Tom Holland.

Mason and his mum Kerry got the chance to speak with the Countess, who is DEBRA’s Royal Patron, over a video call.

“I was expecting 10 to 15 minutes with her but we were on the call for an hour,” said Kerry.

“We chatted about different things, like school and how Mason has been finding lockdown. She said she was really proud of him and got quite emotional. She offered him the chance to see the crown jewels as a VIP guest, which Mason got very excited about.

“Mason wanted to do the challenge to raise money for the charity and to make sure it could keep going in these difficult times.”

Mason, who lives in Ringwood and is currently shielding at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, decided not only to do his own challenges, but also set challenges to the boxing community and football legend Graeme Souness.

The Ferndown Middle School pupil asked boxers from Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions if they could do the splits and DEBRA UK vice president Graeme if he could do more than 30 sit ups in one minute.

Graeme told the Daily Echo: “Mason is doing a great job.

“It is easy for me to go for a walk outside or a run in the gym but for Mason and other sufferers any movement they make or any contact they make with anything can be excruciating, so fair play to him.”

Mason is raising money for the EB nurses, funded by DEBRA UK, at Great Ormond Street Hospital, as well as assisting with research into effective treatments and ultimately a cure for EB.

To make a donation, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/kerry-white22