A FATHER of two children suffering from the same rare condition says he is overwhelmed by people’s support after raising more than £10,000 for charity.

Luke Gorringe says he has been amazed by the public response to his children’s plight.

Dollie Gorringe, who is eight-months-old, was the first child diagnosed with Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome (AGS), a genetic brain disease with no cure.

Her brother Leighton, four, was later also diagnosed with a mild form of AGS, after he was given a temporary diagnosis of cerebral palsy two years ago.

He will have to use a wheelchair in the future and might only live until his late childhood or early childhood.

Mr Gorringe, 31, of Wilsden, is raising money for Martin House Children’s Hospice at Boston Spa after visiting it in February.

His personal online fundraising page stands at £8,139, but he said the total exceeds £10,000 through a couple of his friends setting up similar sites.

Mr Gorringe said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic.

“The money raised is helping make a difference. I’m overwhelmed by what has been achieved.

“I never thought in a million years we would raise so much money. We will just keep going with the fundraising.”

The condition AGS affects newborn infants and usually results in severe mental and physical handicap. There are two forms of the syndrome - an early-onset, which is severe, and a late-onset, which has less impact upon neurological function.

The early-onset affects about 20 per cent of all babies who have AGS.

Mr Gorringe said both children were doing well, despite Dollie being in hospital earlier this month.

He said: “It has been a tough couple of weeks and a bit of a stressful time.

“Dollie was in hospital for three days with an infection but she is back to her old self now, smiling. Leighton is doing well at the moment too.

“We just want to make the most of all of our time with them both.”

Mr Gorringe hopes to further boost the fundraising efforts by taking part in a sky dive and London to Paris bike ride.

Dollie’s symptoms started when she suffered a seizure at six-weeks-old and she was admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

She stopped feeding and an MRI scan and blood tests were taken. They were analysed by researchers at the University of Manchester who diagnosed on February 1, that she had AGS. Leighton was diagnosed in March this year.

Dollie is now tube-fed through her nose and is on seven different types of drugs.

Sarah Tarpey, Martin House Hospice’s West Yorkshire community fundraiser, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Luke and his friends and family have been raising money for Martin House and that Luke’s total raised has reached the £10,000 mark.

“This money will enable Martin House to continue to care for children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families.”

The family are also planning on going on a holiday after a mystery benefactor offered to pay for them to visit Disneyland Paris.

To support the family’s fundraising campaign, go to justgiving.com/Martin-House-Dollie-Gorringe.