FAMILY friends of a boy suffering a degenerative eye disease are preparing for a big plunge to raise funds for the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB).

Bradley Wood, agd 11, from South Moor, Stanley, has been diagnosed with the condition Stargardts disease.

Although he has some vision, he is registered blind and unless researchers can come up with a cure the signs are not optimistic.

His mother, Diane, said he had learned to adjust and bravely confronts his problems without fuss.

"He's now lost his distance vision and he does things from memory, knowing how many stairs out of school, and such like. But if he goes somewhere unfamiliar he does struggle and we are noticing it more now.

"He is still upbeat. He copes tremendously, better than us.

"We've heard about research going on in Brussels and you always live in hope that something will come up."

When her close friend Clare Ackerman learned of Bradley's failing sight she decided to sign up for a charity abseil being staged by the RNIB.

It will involve participants dropping 150ft down the face of the Baltic arts building at Gateshead Quays in October.

Diane said Clare's enthusiasm rubbed off on a wider circle of friends, who have all agreed to take part.

"It just snowballed and I think there's about 30 doing it now.

"Bradley's grandad Bill Scott has set up a trust fund for him and he's doing the Great North Run for that, so there's quite a lot going on."

Anyone wishing to help the fund, or take part in the abseil, can contact Diane, at 35 Windermere Terrace, South Moor, or on (07753) 127612.