The parents of a severely ill boy have started a fundraising campaign in an effort to improve the life of their son – whose exact condition remains undiagnosed.

Nikki Lancaster, 33, and Ian Ruffles, 35, hope to raise £15,000 for equipment to help their seven-year-old son Lennon, who is deaf, mute, partially sighted and permanently hooked up to medical tubes.

Despite numerous tests, doctors have been unable to identify exactly what condition it is Lennon suffers from.

His parents have both given up work to become full-time carers and have to feed Lennon through a tube due to constant bowel failure. Their son also has to undergo hourly fluid replacements throughout the day.

The couple, who also look after Lennon’s sisters Isla, five, and Florence, one, started Lennon Ruffles’ Charity Fund just over a fortnight ago in the hope to raise enough money to provide him with a bike especially adapted for his use, an eye-gaze computer designed to help him communicate, and a special padded area to play in at his home in Aubries, Walkern.

Miss Lancaster said: “He spent the first nine months of his life in and out of intensive care. He’s just such a lovely boy and raising this money would mean so much to everyone.”

Their fundraising total has now passed the £1,000 mark – to contribute to the fund visit www.gofundme.com/62nbno or follow @Lennonsfund on Twitter.