A FUNDRAISING day is taking place to provide much-needed equipment for a toddler with a degenerative disorder which causes his muscles to deteriorate.

The family fun day is taking place at the White Horse pub in Ripon to raise money for Laigan Hammond, who is nearly two years old, to provide him with a specialist bed and two chairs that will allow him to sit up comfortably.

After numerous visits to health professionals, his parents Nataleigh and Lewis, from Catterick, were told the devastating news last year that Laigan had Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

The condition affects the nerves going to the muscles, leading to increasingly poor muscle movement. It affects the toddler’s ability to walk or crawl and can also affect eating, breathing and swallowing.

Laigan also suffers weakness in his neck muscles and fundraising is currently ongoing to raise funds for two chairs, one for home and another for the nursery he attends, to enable him to hold his head up and sit comfortably.

Attempts are being made to also purchase a specialist bed.

In total the equipment will cost £5,850 and efforts are ongoing to try and help his family raise the money.

Amy Morrissey, who works at pub, on North Street has organised the fundraising event at the pub on July 1.

She said: “He needs a lot of equipment to make sure he’s as comfortable as possible, which we’re trying to fundraise for.

“I’ve been going all around Ripon getting prizes for a raffle and tombola.The more people who get involved, the more we can raise.”

The event begins at 11am.