A mum has been inundated with support after she offered to pay a stranger to be friends with her son who has Down Syndrome. Donna Herter, from Missouri, America, explained how her 24-year-old son, Christian Bowers, doesn't have many friends in a heartbreaking Facebook post - and asked whether anybody would be willing to give up their time to hang out with him.
She wrote: "I'm looking for a young man, between the ages of 20-28 who would like to make some extra money. Two days a month for two hours, I'll pay you to be my son's friend. All you have to do is sit with him and play video games in his room. Nothing else. He's 24 and has Down Syndrome and doesn't have any friends his age.
"You will not be alone with him, myself or his grandpa will be home. Obviously, he won't know you are getting paid, but that you are there for him those two days. The pay is $80 (£66) for two hours."
Her post was shared more than 60,000 times and she received messages from kind-hearted strangers from all over the world.
One of those was from Mayhall who offered to spend time with Christian without expecting anything in return.
He told KMOV: "People now are starting to see a lot of these kids with special needs need somebody in life just like we do, no different."
Commenting on Donna's original post, one user said: "I love this so much, and the outpouring response is incredible."
Another user added: "My kids will play with him virtually for free - it would be our pleasure! We don't live anywhere close to you but please reach out! Such a great mum!"
A third user said: "I wished I played video games so I could play with your son ! Love all the love you've been receiving."
One more user added: "A mother love - nothing compares. Enjoy all your new friends."
A fifth user said: "If only I lived near, my son is 18 but he’d of loved to play video games with him and you wouldn’t have to pay either. I feel sad you guys had to make a post to pay someone to be his friend for 4 hours a month. Good luck though."
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