AN ELEVEN-year-old girl whose young sister is battling an extremely rare condition is to embark on an epic fundraising mission to help other sufferers.

Bethan Milling of Little Ouseburn, near York, was inspired to write to The Press to highlight the battle against a serious illness which her four-year-old sister Seren has fought and her own quest to support a Yorkshire children’s charity.

Seren was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune condition called Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (LCH) when she was two-and-a-half.

Only about 50 children a year in the UK develop LCH, a cancer-like condition which can strike a child of any age.

Seren suffered a skin disorder, which is a form of the condition, but it can affect the organs of those suffering from it and chemotherapy is needed.

Although she is now getting better, Bethan’s emotional letter said her sister’s plight had inspired her, together with her father Peter and eight-year-old brother Noel, to embark on a 100-mile bike trip.

They will set off from their grandmother’s Lancashire home and pedal across the Pennines to Leeds, with the money raised going to the Candlelighters charity. Bethan hopes readers of The Press will also donate to their cause.

Bethan’s mother Helen said the family decided to help Candlelighters during visits to the oncology department at St James’ Hospital in Leeds.

In her letter about the charity bike ride, Bethany wrote: “Candlelighters do amazing things for sick children, there are play workers and entertainers, they organise trips for the children to help them and take their minds of treatment.

“They also do groups for family members because as you can imagine this is an awful time for them as well. I think it is amazing what they do there.

“We were very fortunate that my little sister’s condition is mild and is now getting better but we want to do something for others that were less fortunate than us.

“We are hoping to raise more than £500 and I am hoping that people will help us with our fundraising.”

To sponsor Bethan, Noah and Peter on their bike ride, visit justgiving.com/petermilling