Work has started on creating a new sensory playroom for little Stanley Barnes thanks to the fundraising efforts of his many supporters.

Stanley, who lives in Mawnan Smith with his parents Ross and Marie and his sister Willow, suffers from the rare and terminal disease Sanfilippo type A. He is currently back home following a set back at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London, where he had been accepted onto a trial of enzyme replacement therapy.

Infections meant Stanley had to halt the trial and return home while antibiotics got to work, but he is set to return to hospital next week to try the operation again. All being well, he will be returning to London every two weeks for the enzyme replacement therapy.

In the meantime, the family has taken advantage of him being at home and has made a start on Stanley’s sensory room. Mr Barnes, a teacher at St Francis School, said yesterday: “We’re really pleased with how this is going. We’ve got the flooring people coming to decide on the right floor for both playing now and wheelchair later. The builders are in next week to level the floor – it’s pretty wonky. Thanks again everyone, it’s just really good to be doing something that will make a difference to Stanley’s enjoyment of life.”

The Barnes family is being supported by a small army of fundraisers who are determined to raise all the money needed to create Stanley’s playroom.

The latest fundraising event was a “Margarita fun night” held at Falmouth’s Dolly’s Tea Room and Wine Bar. It was hosted by Kelly Stevens and Catherine Leyshon.

Kelly and Catherine mixed up their favourite drink for all guests, and shared the “perfect Margarita” recipe along with mixology facts and tips. Tarot reader and healer Jane Orr was also on hand to add an extra twist, Doll Makin and her team made sure it was a night to remember and local people and businesses gave to a raffle.

By the end of the evening, £640 had been raised for Stanley’s Friends with Mr Barnes saying: “Wow,! Well done Kelly and well done all of those involved. An amazing amount was raised.”