A DEDICATED couple are set to hold fundraising events to help raise tens of thousands of pounds to cover the cost of IVF to transform their son’s life.

Zoe and Craig Alderson started an online fundraising page last month to try to raise £50,000, which will cover the cost of three IVF cycles.

Zoe, 30, and Craig, 37, need IVF to help save their 20-month-old son Henry who suffers with a rare genetic condition called diamond blackfan anaemia.

The condition means he cannot produce red blood cells and has already had to undergo 26 blood transfusions just to stay alive.

He is also the only person in the world with another gene mutation, which means he is likely to develop a form of blood cancer.

After not responding well to steroid treatment, his parents said his only option is to have a bone marrow transplant from a sibling donor.

The couple have always wanted another child and it could save Henry’s life.

If the IVF is successful, the embryo would be tested to ensure it does not have diamond blackfan anaemia and would be a tissue match for Henry.

The bone marrow transplant would not hurt that baby as stem cells would be collected from the umbilical cord after birth.

Since the launch of their Just Giving page the couple have received about £9,000 from friends, family members and members of the public.

Zoe said: “We are trying to raise £15,000 to do one cycle and if that does not work will be keep pushing to raise enough fore the other cycles.”

“If we raised more than our target then we would give the additional money to a charity for diamond blackfan anaemia.”

Zoe said if the bone marrow transplant was successful he Henry would never need blood transfusions again and his chances of contracting blood cancer would be lowered dramatically.

A family fun day is being held on September 9 at the District Indoor Bowls Club, in Clayton Road, a quiz night is taking place at Boadicea bar in Colchester on October 5, and a Michael Jackson tribute night is being held at United Services Club, in Harwich, on October 21.

To sponsor Henry visit, www.facebook.com/helpourhenry or contact Zoe on 075579 30271.