THE family of a young boy who survived a deadly virus has raised more than £4,000 for the hospital that treated him.

Joseph Wilkin, four, was struck down with a form of severe brain disease, called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), which left him fighting for his life.

His parents, John, 41, and Susan, 38, of Higher Stanhill, Oswaldtwistle, rushed him to Blackburn Royal Infirmary when he fell ill last June.

The youngster was then transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, where he spent eight weeks.

In July he was moved again to hospital in Preston and was finally allowed home in August.

John said that although Joseph still has some mobility problems and problems with his spatial awareness, he is well on the way to making a full recovery and was able to start at West End Primary School in Oswaldtwistle in September.

He said: "Month by month he is getting better. He lost a lot of weight while he was in hospital so he doesn't have a lot of physical strength.

He is also still having physiotherapy to improve his mobility.

"But he is doing well especially when you consider that when we got to Pendlebury they told us he might die. When you look at how he is now to how he was then it is nothing short of a miracle."

Just before Christmas John and Joseph went back to the hospital to hand over cheques for £4,305.

Peel Park FC, the football team John manages, held a sportsmen's finner, which raised £2,000; his colleagues at Pierce Chartered Accountants helped raise a further £1,000, and the family's church, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, added £500 to the total.

The rest came from private donations made at the party they held for Joseph when he returned from hospital.

John said: "This is a way of saying thanks to the hospital for everything they did for Joseph and us."

The family also donated £300 to the Children's Medical Unit at Queens Park Hospital.