THE plight of a brave toddler who has a rare life-threatening disease with no cure has inspired a campaign to fund research into his condition.

Two-year-old Robert Glover, who lived with his family in Adelaide Street, Accrington, before they recently moved to Herkomer Avenue, Burnley, was diagnosed with Mucopolysaccharide, or MPS, when he was just one

His parents, Andrew and Gillian, realise it will be years before a cure is found for the disease, which can result in mental and physical handicap.

Dad Andrew Glover, 37, a university lecturer, said: "If they find a cure it will be too late for our son.

"It is absolutely devastating. We just want something positive to come out of this.

"By fund-raising for more research we might be able to prevent other parents going through what we are going through."

The disease can lead to restricted growth and then progresses to mental and physical handicaps.

Some forms of the disease cause severe mental handicap which can also lead to death in childhood.

The disease is passed through genes and affects the body's ability to breakdown waste material, which results in damaged cells. Often babies do not show any signs of it, but symptoms appear as more and more cells are damaged. Robert was diagnosed after his parents discovered a lump on his spine.

The two-year-old is almost like any other youngster at the moment and is going to go nursery.

However, by the age of five, he is expected to be very hyperactive which will cause problems, such as sleeplessness .

At the age of ten his whole body will 'slow down' as it is unable to cope with basic tasks. Robert could be confined to a wheelchair.

Mr Glover said: "It is a very rare disease with only about one in every 60,000 children getting it. Often it is not diagnosed until later as parents don't realise anything is wrong.

"There is a lot of research being carried out and in time they might be able to replace the defective genes through bone marrow transplants."

The fund-raising kicks off with a sponsored swim tomorrow afternoon by members of 14th Great Harwood Guides, at Mercer Hall Swimming Pool, Great Harwood.

Money raised will go towards research and the MPS Society which supports parents with children suffering from the disease.

Mr Glover is also planning a sponsored bike ride with regulars from the Park Inn, Accrington.

His 35-year-old wife works in local government and the couple have another son, Joseph, four.

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