NEARLY 50,000 people have lent their support to a 21-year-old, suffering from a mystery illness, who set up an online petition to improve conditions across the country for people with disabilities.

Zack Kerr, 21, from Howard Close, Accrington has been campaigning to get accessible changing room facilities installed at all UK motorway service stations over the past two months.

The student at Beaumont College in Lancaster was rushed to hospital as an 11-month-old baby with a rash. After tests it was found his condition had worsened and he suffered brain damage which left him unable to move his arms or legs.

Zack’s condition means he is reliant upon an electric wheelchair and has to use a machine to help him speak.

The Manchester United supporter has dealt with the condition his entire life and has been using the campaign to improve facilities for other wheelchair users.

After the first 24 hours of Zack’s campaign’s launch 200 signed the petition and today more than 46,000 people have pledged their support to Zack’s campaign.

Zack, who turns 22 next week, said: “It makes me feel very proud and I’m both happy and amazed that so many people are supporting me.

“Initially, most of my supporters came through my own social media contacts, but very quickly news of the campaign spread and the petition was being shared all over the country. Now I have over 46,300 signatures.

“My MP Graham Jones has been very supportive and is trying to promote my campaign in Westminster.

“I have my sights on reaching 50,000 signatures at least and would love the campaign to grow further.”

Since the campaign first started Zack has given presentations to groups of staff students at Nelson and Colne College.

He also been invited to talk at Accrington College soon and to give a presentation to a group of occupational therapists and psychologists in Blackburn next month.

Zack’s stepdad Ceri Davies said: “We have been on the road many times and found that no changing places are provided by motorway services in the North West.

“Zack hopes his campaign will change that.”