A COUPLE are hoping to spread greater awareness of their son's condition by appearing in a television documentary.

Paul and Kim Storey, their son, Greg, and daughter, Elena, who live in Pickering, will appear on the BBC's QED programme in February.

Eight-year-old Greg was recently diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome and the whole family is slowly coming to terms with his condition.

"We want to create a greater awareness of what it's like for him and for people to understand," said Kim.

The syndrome causes the sufferer to have verbal or physical tics, which comprise of repetitive behaviour such as a rolling of the eyes or a twisting of the face.

Other tics cause the sufferer to scream involuntarily or bang their hands or limbs against a wall.

They can be triggered by a range of emotions. In rare cases, the syndrome leaves the sufferer, but in the majority of cases it stays with them throughout their lives.

"It is very difficult, but you just have to understand Greg is a lovely, bright little boy," says Kim, a teacher at Slingsby School.

Greg, who attends Woodleigh School, in Langton, was only diagnosed with the syndrome last year.

"Greg's behaviour could be perceived as being naughty but he's not - he is very well behaved," said Kim.

"At school he is fine - the teachers are great and they work with his tics. He's a very bright kid and the other kids just accept it.

"But we have been walking in town and sometimes people have passed comment on Greg's behaviour."

"It is not like epilepsy where his mind goes blank, Greg is totally aware of what he is doing," she adds.

Updated: 10:21 Tuesday, December 11, 2001