PARENTS of a baby who died of an extremely rare condition at five days old are holding a charity football cup in his memory.

Stacie and Martin Richardson lost son Ethan Jai three years ago to a condition thought to have affected just seven others worldwide and have since raised £30,000 for the Tiny Lives Trust.

The charity supports sick and premature babies and their families from across the North-East on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Newcastle’s RVI.

This weekend they hope the Ethan Jai Memorial Cup football tournament in their hometown of Seaham, County Durham, will add to the little lad’s legacy and raise vital funds that could help save another baby’s life.

It will be the second time the family has held the cup, but this year’s promises to be bigger and better, with a funfair, craft stalls as well dance and gymnastics displays and the five-a-side football competition.

Mrs Richardson, a custody investigating officer with Northumbria Police, said: “It first started when we asked for donations instead of flowers at Ethan’s funeral as we just wanted to be able to give something back to the unit and to Tiny Lives for all the support they gave us. It was priceless what they did.

“It just went from there and we found it was giving us a lot of comfort to think that we were keeping Ethan’s legacy alive.

“We were so pleased to be able to have reached the £30,000 mark in time for what would have been his third birthday.”

Ethan was born prematurely in March 2011 and was found to be suffering from an extremely rare condition called Glutaric Acideamia type 2, which results in a fatal build-up of lactic acid in the body.

Doctors at the RVI found only seven recorded cases worldwide and there is no known cure.

Mrs Richardson, who now also has a daughter Alyssa Mae, said: “We are eternally grateful for the care and support which allowed us to have the most amazing five days with our special little boy, and he gave me a Mother’s Day I will forever cherish.

“Last year’s cup was a great day with over 400 people coming along to watch and this year’s is going to be even better with more family activities taking place and prizes to be won. We hope to make it an annual event.”

The event takes place on Saturday July 12 from 10am to 4pm at Seaham Leisure Centre. Entry is free.