A CALLINGTON family is appealing to people to help their youngest family member.

Little Indy Blenkinsop, who is six months old, was born with the extremely rare Pontocerebellar hypoblasia, a genetic condition which affects the development of the brain.

Many born with the condition, which can cause severe developmental delay, visual impairment and seizures, do not survive infancy or childhood.

Nicky Isbell, who is Indy's great aunt, said: 'There is no cure, but little Indy is a fighter. We all love him so much.'

Despite the severity of Indy's illness, his parents Becky and Mike travel from their home in Leeds whenever they can to see family, and to give their son as many enriching experiences as possible – such as a trip to Bristol Aquarium, where they met other families of babies with Pontocerebellar hypoplasia.

Becky, Mike and Indy, together with Indy's grandparents Yvonne and Rob Holliday, recently visited Cornwall. 'As Yvonne has numerous cousins in and around Callington, she comes to visit regularly and thankfully Indy was up to the journey,' said Nicky.

'Indy has to travel with oxygen, but Becky and Mike want him to have as many experiences as they can in the time he has. A visit to Looe beach was important.'

Now the family and their friends are coming together to fundraise, to enable Indy and his parents, and families like theirs, to receive care and support from the Martin House Children's Hospice. Becky and two of her friends will be running the Rock Solid Race in Exeter, and their fundraising website can be found at http://www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Indyswarriors">www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Indyswarriors.

'I don't think many people know about this tragic condition – you never see it in the media, ' said Nicky. 'There is a wonderful respite home that takes little ones and their families on short breaks. Indy is very poorly at the moment, but we hope that he, Becky and Mike will be able to go on a break soon.