Community rally round for Summer

ASDA Sutton branch has been raising money for ex employee's daughter who is terminally ill at the age of 1. l-r back Mark Smith, Marion Betts holding Summer Louise Smith, Hayley Carrington, Bronwyn Bearder, front is Erin Bowe 6 and Bailey Smith 4.

Summer Betts was born with Type two Gaucher’s Disease which affects fewer than one in 100,000.

She is now 14-months-old but it is unlikely she will live past two.

Her mum, Marion, and dad, Mark Smith, hope to raise awareness of the rare condition.

Marion said: “I am still in shock, I begged them for a second opinion and if there was any chance there was a cure but we were told it was unlikely she would live past two. We’re absolutely devastated but want to raise awareness of the condition.”

After a routine check up with her doctor Summer was taken in for tests because she had a chesty cough and her stomach was swollen. Further tests at Mansfield Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital on her liver and spleen, revealed she had the condition which means she has an enzyme defiency which can’t break down waste around her body and brain.

Marion added: “The support and generosity of people, even people we don’t know, has been overwhelming. We didn’t even think to fund raise but people have been giving us money saying we should go on one last family holiday together.”

Marion worked at Asda in Sutton before Summer’s diagnosis. Her colleages have rallied together so the family including Summer’s siblings Bailey and Erin-Bowe can go to Disneyland. Bronwyn Bearder led the fundraising which was then matched by Asda. The store donated £282 to the family which has taken the total money raised for Summer to £7,500. The family thank everyone who has helped to donate and give Summer the best quality of life possible. She is the only patient to have been treated with the inherited disease at King’s Mill Hospital.