A FOOTBALLING legend is backing a battle to provide a better life for a youngster struck down by a mystery illness.

Ex-Manchester United and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Harry Gregg will donate his first international cap for auction. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Rosie Henry trust fund.

Rosie, four, of Romanby, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, suffers from a mystery degenerative condition that is attacking her brain.

Her parents, Richard and Diane, are trying to raise thousands of pounds to improve her quality of life with special equipment and modifications to their home.

Mr Gregg was part of the famous United team of the mid-1950s - dubbed the Busby Babes. He was one of the survivors of the Munich plane crash of 1958 which killed 23 people, including eight of the team.

Now living in Northern Ireland, he heard about Rosie's plight through the fundraising efforts of the province's firefighters.

Rosie's father works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Northallerton. His station's secretary sent appeals for help to every branch of the service in the UK and offers of support have been flooding in.

"We were really surprised and pleased about Harry Gregg's offer," said Mr Henry.

He said that the Manchester United club museum is looking at bidding for the cap.

Mick Hucknall, of pop band Simply Red, who is a collector of Busby Babes' memorabilia, has expressed an interest.

The auction is due to take place in Sotheby's of London on May 18.

The firefighters of Northern Ireland have been busy fundraising for several months and are taking Rosie and her parents to Coleraine this weekend, to present them with a cheque.

"They have done a heck of a job over there for us," said Mr Henry. "We are really looking forward to meeting them all."

As well as the Northern Ireland efforts, firefighters in the North-East and North Yorkshire have been busy with some imaginative fundraising efforts to help Rosie cope with her life-limiting neurological illness.

It is hoped enough money can be raised to build a specially-equipped bedroom and bathroom at the family home, to make life easier for Rosie and her carers.