CHILDREN and adults across York will be asked to wear blue for one day next year to help a little boy with an ultra-rare genetic condition that will cost him his life.

Family and friends of Blake Knaggs who celebrates his first birthday today are urging as many schools and businesses as possible to take part in "Wear blue for Blake's genes day " on February 13.

A massive fundraising drive was prompted earlier this year after Blake, of Huntington, became one of only 57 children worldwide to be diagnosed as suffering from Mucolipidosis II ML2 (MPS).

The condition, inherited from his parents Louise and Paul, who are both carriers, is incurable and he has a very poor chance of reaching his fifth birthday.

The couple and their friends and relatives decided to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the illness and raise funds for research, which they hope they might prolong Blake's life but also help other children born with MPS.

An auction evening and raffle at Haxby Sports Club raised £9,430 and other events took the total so far to almost £12,000.

The majority of the money will go to the Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases to fund research into the condition, while some will go to Martin House Children’s Hospice, where Blake has stayed and some will be used to create a sensory room full of stimulating colour and light at his home.

Blake’s aunt Joanne Addinall, of Haxby, said there were plans to enlist local children to help design a poster to promote the day, and she would be writing to primary and secondary schools across York in the New Year.

But she also hoped grown-ups would wear blue as well, and make a donation to the cause.

She added that Blake's mother was organising a big birthday party today for Blake and his friends at the village hall in Haxby.