PARENTS of a seriously ill baby are appealing to people to attend a fundraising event.

Finton and Lisa O'Rourke, from Hartlepool, want to raise funds to buy specialist equipment needed by hospitals in Teesside to help them care for very ill infant children.

The couple's five-month old daughter Brogen has been ill since birth.

She is blind, deaf and cannot breathe without mechanical assistance.

Mr O'Rourke said: "All the equipment needed to treat children like Brogen must be purchased by charitable means.

"We are making an all-out effort to raise money to buy more equipment in the Cleveland area and, in addition, to fund the training of teams of volunteers to help parents in the treatment of seriously ill children in the home.

"Brogen, for example, needs 21 physiotherapy sessions a week and she also suffers from epilepsy.

"It is not difficult to imagine the strain on parents like ourselves and others in the Cleveland area, and the need for properly trained volunteers to help take some of the strain."

Members of Springs Health Club, Stockton, and their friends, are planning to turn out in force on Sunday, September 1, when the club stages a special fundraising evening for the Brogen O'Rourke appeal.

The club is providing the accommodation, putting on special entertainment, plus food and a series of competitions.

Jayne Larkin, Springs general manager, said: "We are happy to help in this way and know that the club members and their friends will support the effort."