THE MOTHER of a disabled boy has raised thousands of pounds to help fund genetic research in an attempt to find a cure for her son.

Suffering from numerous physical, sensory and mental disabilities, one-year-old Harrison Clark has a genetic condition so rare that experts cannot identify it.

Shortly after he was born, Harrison’s parents became convinced something was desperately wrong.

The Northern Echo: Hayley Mason of Skipton Close, Newton Aycliffe with son Harrison Clark (19 months) on her knee who suffers from a genetic disorder and organised a fun run in Darlington last Sunday to raise money. Also pictured are her other two children Maddie and Jay

As a baby, he failed to meet almost all normal physical and mental milestones and inspired worry in his parents, Hayley Mason and Anthony Clark.

The Newton Aycliffe couple became increasingly concerned but say initial worries were dismissed by medics, health visitors and clinicians.

Ms Mason said: “I just knew something was wrong, he was a quiet baby, too placid and floppy.

“When he was seven months, we took him to the doctor because he was still not sitting up or holding his head properly – he’s now almost two, has a developmental age of five months and is visually impaired.

“The doctor thought I was just being anxious but referred us a paediatrician, we had to wait almost three months for an appointment.

“We felt fobbed off but after sensory examinations, they finally realised something was wrong.

“Since then, his doctors have done so much and he’s now under the care of a genetic expert at Newcastle’s RVI.”

Harrison’s medical team have conducted numerous tests and while convinced his disabilities are the result of a genetic condition, they have not yet isolated the specific gene responsible.

Ms Mason believes genetic research and treatment for such conditions is more advanced in other countries.

She is now working to raise awareness of genetic conditions and hoping to highlight the importance of funding further research in the UK to help children like Harrison.

She said she felt not enough was known about genetic illnesses in the UK, adding: “Before I had Harrison, I’d look at parents of disabled children and wonder how they did it.

“Harrison’s condition has acted like a whirlwind and a massive learning curve.

“There are nine experts involved in his care and we can go to five hospital appointments a week.

“There’s so much confusion around genetic conditions and there needs to be more awareness and more funding for research.”

Earlier this month, Ms Mason arranged a charity fun-run in Darlington’s South Park with colleagues from Arriva, raising more than £3,000 to be split between Genetics UK and Dementia UK.