Campaign on baby's skin condition

Tie has suffered from the condition since birth

A fund-raising campaign has been launched to raise money to fund research into a rare skin condition suffered by an Anglesey baby.

Seven-month-old Tie Davey, from Llangefni, is one of 5,000 people in the UK with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

The genetic condition causes blisters on the skin and internal body linings at the slightest knock or rub.

Peter Davey, 32, and wife Clare, 26, hope money raised for the Debra charity will help find a cure for their son.

"By raising money we feel like we are doing something positive to help Tie," said Mr Davey.

'Good spell'

The condition causes Tie's skin to come off at the slightest knock, and even bathing their baby requires both Mr and Mrs Davey to be present.

"He is going through a good spell at the moment, but it can mess with your head because he looks like any other baby when that happens and you can think he hasn't got the condition," Mr Davey said.

"But then he'll have a bad spell and his skin will blister at the slightest thing."

Despite this, Tie, the youngest of five children is a "spirited" child said Mr Davey.

But the condition means that the family has to be constantly vigilant.

"He will never be able to eat crisps for instance as the condition affects more than the skin on the outside," said Mr Davey.

Charity events

The couple learned Tie had EB when he was born without skin on his feet.

It was a "shock" said Mr Davey, but since then the family has knuckled down and "just got on with it".

None of the couple's other children Jessica, nine, Jade, seven, Jamie-Anne, five, Harriet , three, and Adelle, one, have the condition but it is possible they could be carrying the defective gene, he said.

As well as a charity darts night at Amlwch Sports and Social Club on Friday, Asda at Llangefni are organising a fun day on Saturday 31 March to raise funds for the Debra charity.

Darts night organiser Keith Jones said he felt he had to do something when he heard about Tie.

"Although it is awful for anyone with this condition I felt I wanted to do something even more because it is affecting a baby," he said.

Tony Eckersall from the Debra charity said all fund raising was important.

"We need to find an end to the curse of EB," he added.