Boost for Hartley family's charity (From Daily Echo)

Boost for Hartley family's charity

6:05am Friday 18th July 2008 in News By Lucy Clark

A CHARITY set up by a Hampshire family that has battled its way through a devastating genetic condition is being supported by a new local business.

The XLP Research Trust was set up by David and Allison Hartley, from Romsey, in 2005 - two years after all four of their young sons were diagnosed with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome.

The condition leaves sufferers with no immunity against cancer of the blood and glandular fever and the Hartleys were told that, without successful bone marrow transplants, the boys were unlikely to reach their teens.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Joshua, 16, Nathan, 14, Daniel, 12, and eight-year-old Luke have all now undergone transplants. Luke, the last of the boys to undergo the procedure, returned to school for the first time earlier this month.

Game On, a new video games shop in Bell Street, Romsey, ran a prize draw and has raised £75 for the charity, which is supporting research into a cure for XLP.

Dad David said: "We are really grateful to Game On for their support. The support from local businesses has been really wonderful and helps confirm our vision that in the near future no other family should go through the trials and tribulations that we have had to endure."

Sean Depoix, co-owner of Game On, added: "As a new local business we thought it would be good to support a local charity as the boys are regular customers to the shop."