A FUNDRAISING day is being held on Sunday at Coombs Wood Sports Club in memory of a six-year-old boy who lost his life this month to a rare gene disease.

Donors from the Black Country were preparing to visit Great Ormond Street Hospital to donate stem cell samples for Ben Murphy but the little lad died on August 5.

Instead of cancelling the fundraiser for the donors travel expenses organisers will instead give cash to Ben's family and make a donation to the hospital.

Charlotte Edge, organising the event, said: "Last year Ben was a healthy five-year-old happy little boy but by the end of April he was seriously ill and air lifted to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where he was diagnosed with XIAP/HLH sadly the only cure was a bone marrow transplant, of which he was given in November 2013.

"His disease recently relapsed and Ben received a 2nd bone marrow transplant, but after this suffered from a serious infection and unfortunately he lost his battle to this illness and passed away."

She added: "Out of respect for Ben and his family I have decided to carry on the fundraising event in memory of Little Ben and to help to raise money to support Ben's family in the cost of the funeral and to make a donation towards Great Ormond Street Hospital were Ben received his treatment."

The fun day at the Stuarts Road sports club starts at noon and will include a charity cricket match, various stalls, a bouncy castle, barbecue, fire engine and live entertainment during the night.