AN eight-year-old boy is rushing to tick as many items off his wish list as possible before losing his eyesight - but his mum has drawn the line at swimming with sharks.

Fred Howe suffers from a rare progressive eye disease. He can only perceive light in one eye and can only see up to two metres in front of him with his other eye.

But that has not stopped Fred and his family, of Haxby, from trying to experience all the things he wants to do before losing his sight completely.

Mum Karen Newell said: “He was born with his condition but we didn’t realise at first. At his six week check-up the nurse said his eyes were a bit wobbly. I was devastated when he was diagnosed.

“But now we always try to look at it positively. Normal childhood things like going to the zoo are not as easy if you can’t see far.

“We are trying to build up a visual memory bank so he can remember those things if he loses his vision.”

Fred and his parents Karen and Dave Howe, and 10-year-old sister Eva, have already been on a dream holiday to Austria, climbed up Big Ben and watched the London Marathon.

But Fred still has plenty of experiences to tick off his list according to mum Karen. She said: “He would love to swim with sharks but I keep telling him dolphins might be better. He loves sharks.

“He’s really into history and he loves animals, he would love to go on safari. He’s desperate to go somewhere hot now.”

Headlands Primary School pupil Fred, who is also a big fan of Roald Dahl, is also learning Braille and how to touch type at school so he is prepared for whatever challenges the future will bring.

Karen said: “He is going to find life challenging so I want to build up his resilience. There are lots of positive role models around. It’s the world that has to change, not Fred.”

The family are hoping his vision stays stable for as long as possible. He has already had to undergo operations on his eyes and regularly travels to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for check-ups.

Karen, who works with campaign Toy Like Me to lobby toy companies to represent more disabled children in their products, said Fred is also looking forward to the possibility of getting a guide dog when he grows up.

But for now, the family has plans to tick more experiences off Fred’s wish list thanks to charity YHA. The organisation arranged the trip to watch the London Marathon and will now help Fred achieve his dream of going on a Famous Five-inspired fossil hunting holiday.

The family will stay at a youth hostel in an old smugglers' cove.

Karen added: “YHA are a breath of fresh air. They don’t focus on the disability.”