Cresswell mum tells of her brave boys' battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Elizabeth and Scott Ruthven were heartbroken when first their son Wyatt, four and then Garret aged two were told they had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle wasting condition.

There is currently no treatment and no cure, and sufferers lose the ability to walk before their teens, and have a life expectancy of mid-late 20s,

The family are now desperate to raise awareness of the cruel disease.

Elizabeth 40, of Cresswell said: "It was quite a bombshell when Wyatt was diagnosed.

"Wyatt is not able to walk properly , he was treated for flat feet. They thought he may have had autism because of a lack of response for some things but blood tests showed he had Duchennes. A further blood test on his brother showed he too had the condition.

"When Garrett was diagnosed I was expecting it by that point.

"There was some crying for a couple of days, then I pulled myself together. I wasn't going to take it lying down so I did some research .

"They have had their hearts and lungs checked and that's all good at the moment so we're holding off on steroids for the time being.

"They could need a wheelchair from the age of about seven when they are about 12 they might be full time in a wheelchair , then they will start having heart and lung problems . They can be ventilator-dependent in their late teens/early 20s.

"Life expectancy is mid 20s at the moment . But that is not a diagnosis I'm willing to accept. I'm going to do everything I can to try and help."

"I got in touch with Duchenens UK. If I sit and think about it I get depressed, but if I do something positive and fundraise for research and everything I will feel like I'm doing something to fix it.

The couple have organised a Christmas craft fair supported by the parish council at at the community centre in Clowne on Saturday-Sunday November 16-17 from 10am-3pm.

There will be a Christmas craft fair with jams and pickles crocheting . Father Christmas will be there . Elizabeth will be Mother Goose and read stories over the weekend.

"It's raising funds but raising awareness is really important .

"It is a little known disease people - need to know there is this terrible life limiting disease that people don't know much about."