A concert to raise awareness of the life-limiting illness muscular dystrophy will have particular significance for one of the performers.

The event takes place at Ledbury parish church and will include the baroque music group Duo Dolcetini. One of its members is the soprano Jane Field, whose music teacher Margaret Field lives in the town and suggested the venue.

But Jane's prime motivation will be her son, Murray, aged nine, who was diagnosed with the muscle-wasting condition two years ago. She said: "It was a late diagnosis but there could be a treatment in seven to 10 years. It's so close."

Techniques such as using stem cells and genetic patching offer the possibility that the worst effects of muscular dystrophy could be halted in the near future, if not eradicated completely. Stem cell research in Italy has yielded most encouraging results on dogs suffering from the illness. As it is, thanks to medical advances, average life expectancy for children with the illness has risen recently, from about 19 years to almost 30.

Jane said: "It's the Cinderella of causes because other illness research schemes get given tons of money."

The concert is at St Michael and All Angels' Church on Saturday, January 27, at 7.45pm.