A mum is encouraging people to take part in a ‘glow walk’ to help raise money for a hospice which cares for her nine-year-old son, who has a rare genetic condition which means he cannot show any emotion or move any of his limbs.

Dawn Farmer, from Stevenage, is one of 1,000 people taking part in the new 10km Glow Walk in aid of Keech Hospice Care in Luton.

The hospice provides speciaist care for adults and children facing terminal and life-limiting illnesses in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes, and has cared for Dawn’s son Charlie for nearly seven years.

Although Charlie experiences the full array of emotions, he is unable to express any emotion or move any of his limbs, and is cared for by the day support service at Keech.

Dawn said: “Sadly, there’s no cure for Charlie’s condition, but with support from Keech Hospice Care we can help give him the best quality of life.

“Charlie cannot eat and is tube-fed directly into his stomach. He has several seizures every day, which can make him very poorly. My husband, Paul, sleeps with him in case he has a seizure overnight or becomes ill and requires suctioning.

“No-one should have to face a life-limiting illness alone. My family would not be the same without Keech Hospice Care and the support it provides.”

The Glow Walk event will take place on Saturday, March 25, starting at the hospice on Great Bramingham Lane in Luton with a party at 7pm, where participants will wear fluorsecent body paint and have UV torches and glow sticks.

The walk itself will start at 8pm.

Dawn said: “The Glow Walk is the first of its kind and it’s going to be fluorescent fun. Imagine 1,000 glowing people walking with luminous paint - I can’t wait.

“The best thing is we’ll be raising money for Keech Hospice Care while having fun.

“It’s important to give back to Keech, which is our local children’s hospice, because it relies on donations and supporters for 70 per cent of its funding. So, I urge everyone to help by signing up to the Glow Walk.

“It’s going to be a brilliant and bright night out.”

Participants must be aged 16 or over and entry is £15. Registration includes a white t-shirt, two tubes of glow paint, a glow stick, an all-weather poncho and a finisher’s medal.

To sign up, visit www.keech.org.uk/glowwalk or call 01582 707940.