A COMMUNITY is rallying round to help make life easier for a seven-year-old girl, who suffers from a rare condition.

Mia Basford, a pupil at Gothic Mede Lower School in Arlesey, has brittle bone disease.

Her family wants to buy her a wheelchair, which will allow her to get around more easily, but needs to raise £1,400 to do so.

Friends of Mia and residents in the town have been coming together, and hope to raise the full amount for the schoolgirl.

Arlesey Social Club will be hosting a benefit gig for Mia this Saturday.

And classmate Jack Bowskill has raised more than £200, after coming up with the idea of selling his paintings.

Mum Lianne said: “He really missed seeing Mia at school and wanted to do something to help her.

“At first he wanted to sell his sister’s clothes but we talked him round and he managed to come up with something much more creative. We’re very proud of him.”

Mia was born with the condition, which affects one in 20,000 people, but continued to attend school in a buggy.

Her mum Helen said: “We’ve just been blow away by what Jack and others like him have done. It’s great when all this help and support comes from unexpected places.

“We’re so grateful for what everyone is doing.”

The Brittle Bone Society has said it will contribute £2,000 towards the £3,472 wheelchair, but it is up to the family to raise the rest of the money on their own.

Visit www.facebook.com/Helping mia2013 if you would like to make a donation.