A small charity dedicated to helping children with a rare condition that gives them life a threatening sensitivity to daylight is desperately calling for energetic volunteers to help them in a fundraising battle.

The XP Support Group, based in Prestwood, faced a bleak financial situation just a few months ago - until members dug deep to help out.

Now, though, the charity is hoping it can recruit volunteers to take part in the Ride London Challenge in August and the BUPA 10k in London in May to put it on a stronger financial footing for the year ahead.

Sandra Webb said: "As a small group raising funds is always a challenge, this year has been one of our most difficult years and we are trying desperately hard to improve our situation.

"The last year was very difficult."

The charity got national attention in 2014 when Sandra's son Alex, 20, who himself suffers from the condition Xeroderma Pigmentosum, took part in the Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge.

Team Rickshaw was made up of five young people, each supported by projects funded by the BBC Children in Need appeal, who powered a rickshaw for more than 450 miles across England.

Alex was diagnosed with the condition XP at the age of four after suffering from severe sunburns, which began just weeks after he was born.

XP sufferers cannot repair the damage that UV does to their skin cells, so the damage accumulates and becomes skin cancer. They are 10,000 time more likely to develop skin cancer than the normal population.

Mrs Webb said: "The week away changed him - he's much happier in himself and he made some great friends through the Rickshaw Challenge "I'm really really proud of him."

Determined to help Alex lead a normal life, his family founded the XP Support group, which runs regular Owl Patrol events in Frieth for other families with the rare condition. Many families come from overseas so their children can take part in the weekend camps, which allow children to play outdoors at night - a time when they can safely do so.

Alex, and other sufferers, must be constantly protected from UV light during daylight hours - whether through clothing, sun protection creams or even special filters which can be applied to windows.

The money the XP Support Group needs will help pay for hospital outpatient expenses and the essential UV blocking film for home and car windows.

The charity has four places available for cycle riders for Ride London Challenge in August, and two places available for the BUPA 10k in London in May. It is asking that cycle riders raise a minimum of £500 for their place and runners £300.

For more information call 01494 456192 or 01494 459888, or email: info@xpsupportgroup.org.uk