A Ledbury family and their supporters have raised more than £25,000 to help a toddler who suffers from a rare chromosomal condition, Prader-Willi Syndome.
The money, raised in just over six months, will go to the Prader-Willi Association. The body is researching a cure for the debilitating condition that affects Hamish Ireland, the three-year-old son of Jeremy Ireland, of The Shell House Gallery in The Homend.
In September last year, Mr Ireland and ten of his friends cycled through France and sponsorship money is still pouring in for their successful efforts in riding 80 miles a day.
The fundraising continues, with Graham Kershaw, the artist-in-residence at the Shell House Gallery, signing up to run the London Marathon for the association on April 13.
Mr Kershaw, 24, said: "I have been won over by little Hamish. You can't really ignore him."
The friendly youngster already suffers from a curvature of the spine, and at some point will need an operation for the insertion of a steel rod.
Grandmother Pat Ireland explained that Prader-Willi sufferers can expect a normal lifespan. This means Hamish may need six such operations in the years to come, as he grows and develops.
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