Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)

Thank you Peter.. you have given us hope

Parents of sick lad hail TV comic’s fundraisin­g shows

- BY AMY SHARPE

A MUM whose son has a rare life-threatenin­g illness has hailed Peter Kay as an “absolute legend” for joining the fight to find a cure.

The big-hearted comic raised £34,000 for The Lily Foundation – set up to support children with mitochondr­ial disease – through charity screenings of new episodes of his huge TV series Car Share.

Now Kitty Banks, whose lad Arthur, seven, has the chronic condition, says she and husband Marcus were stunned when Peter revealed where the money from last weekend’s Blackpool event was going.

“We are shocked, thrilled and so grateful to him,” says Kitty,

46. “We couldn’t believe it when we heard he’d chosen to support

The Lily Foundation.

GENUINE

“Mitochondr­ial disease has been low profile. Peter’s involvemen­t is amazing in getting people to talk about what it is.

“It gives us hope. Peter comes across as really genuine on TV. It seems he is that nice in real life. He’s an absolute legend.”

Kitty and Marcus, 49, hope other families will benefit from the publicity about the little-known condition, which Arthur was diagnosed with at eight months old.

“Doctors said my son could just die one day,” says Kitty. “It was shocking,”

Mitochondr­ial disease is an inherited chronic illness. It causes debilitati­ng physical and cognitive disabiliti­es, as well as seizures, learning difficulti­es and organ failure. It is thought to affect one in 6,000 people.

Arthur can walk thanks to years of physio, but he has heart issues, brain lesions and developmen­tal problems. His learning age is that of an 18-month-old. “But Arthur is

happy and

has brought so much to our lives,” says Kitty. Doctors cannot tell how long he will live. The family has had help throughout from The Lily Found-ation, which was set up by Liz Curtis 10 years ago after her daughter died from the disease at eight months.

Kitty says: “I was lost when I called them, but Liz was incredible. That support has been consistent ever since.”

The charity says there has been a “surge” in families getting in touch since Phoenix Nights star Peter tweeted his fundraisin­g plans last month.

In a statement, Peter said: “The Lily Foundation is an inspiring charity that helps to improve the lives of children with mitochondr­ial disease.

“I’ve had first-hand experience of the Foundation’s work and I’m proud to raise both awareness and much needed funds to help with the inspiring work they provide to children and their families.”

Those words meant so much to the Banks who also have sons Ned, 10, and Billy, 12.

They too are “delighted” at the celeb’s involvemen­t. “They told everyone at school,” says Kitty, of Basingstok­e, Hants. “They’ve had to grow up quickly, and it’s been hard for them to explain Arthur’s condition to friends. But now it’s a bit more relatable.

Due to demand, Peter, 44, had to add an extra third show to the Winter Garden screenings of hishit BBC sitcom that followed the relationsh­ip between store assistant boss John and promotions rep Kay on their car share to and from work.

INCREDIBLE

The star had cancelled a UK tour in December due to “unforeseen family circumstan­ces” but made a personal appearance at the final screening watched by 8,000 fans last Saturday.

Kitty reckons the publicity he’s generated could help others get quicker diagnosis. She said: “For many, MD goes undiagnose­d for years. Nobody understand­s what you go through as a parent of a child with MD, grieving for the child you will one day lose. To suddenly have people taking notice is incredible.”

Liz, whose foundation supports 320 UK families and funds research, told us: “I’m just so chuffed people are talking about it. To raise that awareness is amazing for us and our families.”

Doctors told me my son could just die one day

KITTY ON ILLNESS THAT CHANGED THEIR LIVES

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