THE mother of a severely disabled boy is helping the siblings of poorly children receive some well-deserved recognition.

Harry Rolph-Wills, seven, of Dovercourt, is battling a rare form of Batten disease.

The condition affects children at a young age, especially their sight, mobility and speech and there is no known cure.

Harry’s mother, Laura, has seen support flood in, enabling her to take him on holidays and make him as comfortable as possible.

However, she says Harry’s brother Joshua, who is ten, also deserves recognition.

Laura said: “Obviously Harry has a life-limiting condition and we have been lucky enough to have some nice holidays and buy things for him.

“Along the journey we noticed while there was a lot of charity and help for the children affected directly by life-limiting conditions and diseases, there is nothing that helps the siblings of those children.

“There isn’t anything that gives the siblings of poorly children recognition and a treat.

“They have to do so much.

"With having a sick brother Joshua has had to learn how to use Harry’s feeding tube and to get his rescue medicine ready if he needs it.

“They have to take on a whole range of responsibilities, often at such a young age, a lot of adults would find difficult.

“The siblings also give up a lot. There will be so much focus and time spent on the poorly child they will miss out on things.”

Laura started Sponsor a Sibling which gives the brothers and sisters of poorly children a treat.

Children are nominated and sponsors buy an item for the youngster. Sponsors can also donate money through a just-giving page.

Laura said: “We’ve been doing one per week and we are on our 13th child.

The children have absolutely loved it and we’ve had some great feedback.”

For more information visit facebook.com/sponsorasibling