BOURNEMOUTH pier is set to be lit up purple to raise awareness for a rare genetic condition in March.

The pier will be illuminated on March 20 to mark CHAMP1 awareness day, a rare condition that affects just 11 people in the UK.

One of those affected is three-year-old Sienna, from Bournemouth.

Sienna was diagnosed last May after she missed milestones in her young life, like learning to walk and talk.

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Her mum Sarah Hutchings told the Daily Echo: “We got referred to a paediatrician who was incredible, and she referred us for genetic testing.

“We ended up having what is called a whole genome sequencing, which basically tests all of her genetics. That came back with CHAMP1.

“What it means is you have two proteins on your chromosome 13, in you and I, both of those work at 100 per cent. For Sienna, one of them works at 100 per cent, and one of them works at 50 per cent, so that 50 per cent gap in that protein is what causes all her difficulties.

“She has come a really long way, she is an amazing little girl, but obviously has this incredibly rare genetic condition.”

CHAMP1 stands for chromosome alignment-maintaining phosphoprotein 1.

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Sienna is not the only person with CHAMP1 in Dorset, with a 23-year-old in Dorchester also having the condition.

Sarah said her husband managed to organise the purple pier after they saw someone in Scotland do something similar.

“He just emailed the council, basically explaining what CHAMP1 awareness day was, and asked if we could have the pier lit up? And they said yes,” she said.

“It means a massive amount to us as a family to have something so huge within Bournemouth lit up. They’ve done it before, so we knew they could do it, but the fact that they’re doing it for us is incredible.”

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Sarah added that they hope the pier being lit purple will help raise awareness of the rare condition. They are hoping to hold a coffee morning for the awareness day, too.

“It doesn’t change a huge amount for Sienna, she is who she is, and she’s a gorgeous girl,” Sarah said.

“But for us it’s about raising that awareness, show people that our kids are amazing, because she is, but she’s just a little bit different to everyone else, and that’s ok.”