AN Okehampton couple are over the moon after residents of the town rallied together to help raise money for a charity that helps their son, who suffers from a rare skin condition.

A grand total of £2,915 was raised for Caring Matters Now, a registered charity which researches Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN), a type of benign tumour, which manifests itself in newborn babies as a birth mark.

The money was raised through a range of fundraising events in the town.

A local businessman who celebrated his 50th birthday donated £846 from a collection box placed at his party and the White Hart Hotel in Okehampton held a pub quiz, raising £124.50.

Mark and Hannah Woods, whose four year old son Morgan suffers from CMN, also held a disco in the town to raise money for the charity.

Hannah, who was born in Okehampton, said they were grateful for all the support from the community.

'We are absolutely gobsmacked with the amount that has been raised — people have been so generous. We originally were hoping to raise between £700 and £800 from the disco and were so surprised when someone actually donated money from their own private birthday party.

'We are extremely grateful to both the White Hart Hotel and the businessman from Okehampton,' said Hannah.

After discovering the charity, Hannah became the South West contact for Caring Matters Now, which was set up to support families and sufferers and to fund badly needed research, currently being undertaken at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

In order for Great Ormond Street to maintain its current level of research, £30,000 is needed annually.

Hannah said that when Morgan was born in Okehampton Hospital the nurses had no idea what was wrong with him.

'As soon as Morgan was born, the nurses took him away and he came back fully dressed.

'Initially, no one knew what it was and they didn't want to upset me, so they dressed him and told me he had some sort of bruising.

'It was only when I was alone with him and changed him in the early hours that I saw the marks on his body. It was a real shock.'

Morgan, who has to wear factor 50 sun cream applied every three hours from April to October, also has a special UV suit when out in the sun.

'Even if there was a magic wand waved and it could be taken away, he's still got it in him — it is not just cosmetic.

'I want to publicise his condition to make people more aware and to help raise the money needed for the research.

'I met a man in his 40s recently who has only just been diagnosed and he has spent a lifetime not knowing.

'We need to educate people about CMN and the more help we can get, the better.'

If you would like to know more about Caring Matters Now or want to make a donation you can phone Hannah on 01837 871282 and visit http://www.caringmattersnow">www.caringmattersnow.

co.uk