THE family of a little girl who suffers from a rare brain condition say they have been deeply moved by the “overwhelming” local effort to buy an adapted family vehicle.

Heather Morrison, now seven, was a bright and lively baby and toddler but her speech failed to develop as expected – and when she was four, her family was given the devastating news that Heather had a rare, incurable brain condition.

Heather, of Acomb, was diagnosed with late infantile Batten disease, a fatal, regressive genetic condition which only affects 200 children in the UK and means Heather cannot walk, eat or communicate and is losing her sight.

Heather, a pupil at Hob Moor Oaks school, cannot sit up and is getting bigger, so she could no longer travel in the family car.

Her family launched a successful fundraising appeal and event at Acomb WMC to raise £2,000 for a deposit on a minibus.

The family’s new adapted Volkswagen Caddy makes it easier for Heather to be transported and to join her family on days out with her parents Becky and Brian Morrison, of Highmoor Close, and her three sisters.

Jan Gamble, Heather’s grandma, said: “We were almost overwhelmed by the response, it’s just lovely.

“I’m so glad we did this, not only for Heather, but also because we have helped to raise awareness of Batten Disease.

“It is such a cruel condition because children affected by it start to develop as other children do, then regress as the condition takes its hold.

“Because it is so rare, most people do not know anything about it so families who are affected by it can feel very isolated and alone, but we have received fantastic support from the charity the Batten Disease Family Association and I would like to thank them too.”

Jan thanked local businesses, neighbours, relatives and wellwishers who donated prizes, time or money, including Roger and Liz Hancock from Fulford Nursing Home, the staff at Imphal Barracks who gave a donation instead of sending Christmas cards to each other, Acomb Kebab House for donating pizza and drinks at the fundraising event, and Cartridge World, Subway and the York Dungeon for donating prizes.