A RETIRED banker from Nelson has pledged to help a four-year-old suffering from a rare and incurable illness.

David Lewis, 54, of Marsden Fold, is planning to take part in a 10km race and organise a concert to raise money for research into diamond blackfan anaemia.

He decided to support the charity after being moved by the case of Sophie Micklethwaite, of Highfield Avenue, Burnley, a pupil at St Paul's primary school in Nelson, which was highlighted in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph earlier this month.

David is planning a fundraising concert featuring Irish singer/songwriter Anthony John Clarke, who will launch a new album at the event on February 20.

He will also be taking part in the Great Manchester run, along with Sophie's father Andy, to raise even more cash for dba.uk, which funds a researcher's post in London to find out more about the disease.

Diamond blackfan anaemia, which affects about 70 people in the UK, is a condition where bone marrow does not produce red blood cells properly. If untreated, it would lead to death.

Sophie, who has an older brother Joel, 6, and sister Abby, 9, is currently dependent on regular blood transfusions to keep her alive.

David said: "I started raising money for charity after I retired, because I need a focus to keep working towards.

"Alison and Andy, Sophie's parents, are a lovely couple and there is a tremendous need for people to help support the research.

"They face such big issues every day and I really want to help them out."

Sophie's mum Alison, 36, a nurse at Burnley General Hospital, said: "We are really grateful to David for doing this. Sophie is a real fighter, a really determined young lady.

"At the moment she is having transfusions every eight weeks and when one is due she gets badly anaemic, but she tries to hide it.

"We don't know what the future holds, but we hope her condition can continue to be managed."

Anthony John Clarke will perform at the Oaks Hotel in Reedley on February 20 to raise funds for dba.uk.

For tickets, priced £8, call David on 01282 696041.