A desperately ill two-year-old boy whose loving mother's strength has helped him survive this long is the star of Children in Need's star-studded charity single Wake Me Up.

Frankie Da Silva was diagnosed with infantile osteopetrosis a condition that left him blind, suffering seizures and delayed his development. He is expected to go deaf.

The family were all proud to see the Children in Need cameras come in to their home to film the video for the hit single Wake Me Up by Gareth Malone's All Star Choir.

It features a host of celebrities including actress Alison Steadman, Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood and comedian Jo Brand.

In addition to receiving care and support from Children in Need, which is hosting its big annual fundraiser on Friday November 14, the Shooting Star hospice and Charshalton Athletic FC are hosting a big charity night on Sunday November 23 to help raise even more money to support the Da Silva family.

Mother Nicola, 26, of Abbotsbury Road on the Morden St Helier border, said: "My Frankie didn't pick this path and I just want to give him the best quality of life.

"My children keep me going. I am Frankie's voice. I have to be strong for him."

"We didn't know he had it, everything was fine during the pregnancy, then I had him and two weeks after we noticed something wasn't quite right."

He was then taken to hospital twice and on the second visit they carried out blood tests on him.

Mrs Da Silva said: "Doctors were running around all over the place."

At six weeks old he was diagnosed with infantile osteoporosis a condition that thickens the bones.

She said: "All of his bones are brittle and all seized up.

"Blood doesn't run through him properly and he needs to have blood transfusions every four weeks.

"We can't see him making it past his third birthday.

"Every Christmas they said to get the family together and say good-bye to him."

Frankie lives with his parents Nicola and Ian, together with siblings Louise, four, and Brandon, seven.

Mrs Da Silva said: "Seeing him in the Children in Need video means everything. Not only is it a memory to keep for us all but the charity has done so much for us.

"For the night itself we will be guests at the BBC. They have arranged transport to get us up and back, Frankie will be taken care of by the people at Shooting Star."

The single, which is a cover of the track by Avicii, is available to purchase via iTunes, Amazon, Tesco and HMV as well as independent retailers.

 

Whether it is a cake sale, a visit from Pudsey bear himself or a spinathon, send your fundraising pictures and how much you raised to newsdesk@wimbledonguardian.co.uk, newsdesk@suttonguardian.co.uk or call 020 8722 6336 / 6359 

To buy the single click here: Wake Me Up