A HUGE charity fun day will be held for a little girl with a rare condition which could mean she needs a liver transplant.

Sophie Barwell, of Heybridge, suffers from biliary artresia, which means her bile ducts are inflamed and damaged, causing scarring on the liver.

Heybridge Pre-School, which she attends, has got behind Children’s Liver Disease Foundation’s (CLDF) annual charity fundraising day – Big Yellow Friday.

On March 4 the centre will host a 24-hour static bike ride.

Mum Lisa Barwell said: “Sophie and her older brother Ethan have both attended Heybridge Preschool and the staff there have been a phenomenal support to the whole family.

“For the past two years have thrown themselves behind fundraising for the CLDF annual fundraising and awareness event.

“This year will be Sophie's last Big Yellow Friday at preschool and so we have decided to hold a much larger event than we have attempted in the past.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Sophie with Anne Read, mum Lisa Barwell and Debbie Whatley, at last year's event

At just six weeks, Sophie, now three, underwent a nine-hour operation to ease her condition and she will continue to need medical care for the rest of her life.

Lisa, a paramedic, added: “I am pleased to say her condition is currently stable but her future remains unpredictable with liver transplant still a very real possibility in the future.

“Nothing prepared me for the bombshell of hearing my baby daughter had a lifelong liver disease and would need major surgery at six weeks old with a very high possibility she would need a liver transplant in the future.

“CLDF have provided us with support, advice and helped us to meet parents of other children affected by liver disease.

“As Sophie becomes older, she will be able to take advantage of the many events CLDF run to support children and young people.”