A FUNDRAISING appeal for a little York boy with a rare and incurable genetic condition has helped organise an international seminar about the illness.

Organisers of the Blakes Genes appeal said the meeting, held at a hotel in Northampton, brought together families and specialists from across the world for a weekend, providing them with information and hopefully prompting further research.

The appeal was set up after Blake Knaggs, two, of Derwenthorpe, was diagnosed as suffering from the life-limiting illness Mucolipidosis II ML2 (MPS).

He has defied doctors walking with a frame, has recently been nominated for York Community Pride Child of the Year and has also started nursery visits.

His aunt Joanne Addinall said the seminar, which was funded by the appeal and the MPS Society, attracted the parents of children with the condition from as far away as New Zealand, Australia and America, as well as British parents, and it was attended by doctors and scientists from America and Belgium as well as the UK.

She said that as well as being informative, it had also been helpful for parents to meet with others in the same situation.

Meanwhile, another fundraising event has been held for the appeal at Haxby Sports Bar.

The talent contest, dubbed Strictly Factor In Their Eyes 2016 and attended by about 180 people, raised more than £3,000 for the appeal.

Joanne said the event was organised by Cadi Hughes, Matt Boggan and Chris Marsden, and featured eight contestants: herself and Katie Johnson, Nicola Sloane, Jenna Darnell, Jayne Hinds, Jason Kelly and Samantha Boden, Ryan Swain, Emma Whitelaw and Glenn Day, who won the competition.

She said the prize money, donated by Haxby Town FC, was kindly given by Glenn back to the appeal.

She said other fundraising events for the appeal included a quiz which has been organised by Polly Anna's Nursery in Haxby, and there were plans for a bike ride and a sky dive, and there were also plans were in the pipeline for major ball at York Racecourse in the autumn.