By Maxine Gordon

A HEARTBROKEN York family are fundraising to build a community treehouse in memory of their "happy and fun" four-year-old son who died from a rare illness.

Jake Bradley Smith, from Strensall, had Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that causes frequent and prolonged seizures.

Tragically, he died in his sleep from a seizure just a week before Christmas.

Now his family are joining forces with friends in Strensall to fundraise to build a treehouse at Robert Wilkinson School in Strensall.

Mum Rebecca, along with dad Chris, sister Olivia, 12, and George, six, took part in the first event on Saturday – a bring and buy sale at Strensall Sports Club.

Other events are planned in the coming months including a children's party at the village hall on April 23 and a summer ball. A zumba-thon and 5km bra walk through Strensall are also in the pipeline along with sponsored bike rides, bake sales, a football tournament and copper jar challenge.

Rebecca said they hoped to raise £25,000, with £15,000 earmarked for the treehouse and the remaining funds to be split between two local charities that have supported Jake and the family – York Inspirational Kids and the Dravet Syndrome UK.

Rebecca said she hoped to establish Jake's Treehouse as a charity and continue fundraising in his memory.

The treehouse would be a fitting tribute, she added. "We want to make it something lovely for him. It will be something fun and happy, that's how he would have been, that's how he was." She envisages it having walkways and a slide and flowerbeds.

She hopes it will be ready in September, which is when Jake would have gone into reception at the school. He had been in the pre-school and been a popular child, she said.

Focussing on fundraising was a way for the family to cope with their grief, she added.

"It is a good thing to force us out of hiding. We want to do this for Jake, so we have to be brave. We don't want things to be negative. Often people don't know what to say, but people can talk to us about the treehouse, and it makes it easier for us and them.

"Jake was so happy and fun and that has to be reflected in the things we do. We don't want it to be morbid.

"It has been such a shock to us all. Despite having all his seizures, he was doing so well."

Rebecca said his sudden death came at the end of an eventful and happy week where Jake had been trampolining, going out for tea and visiting Father Christmas. The family had also enjoyed several lovely holidays together in Scotland, Lanzarote and Disney World Florida.

Rebecca said: "We have had this amazing time with Jake. We were blessed to have him."

You can support the appeal through a justgiving page: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jakestreehouse2017