A FAMILY has embarked on a fundraising quest to help find a cure for their son’s rare eye problem.

Carol and Matt Butcher, of Victoria Avenue, Winton, took four-year-old George for an eye test in April after he complained of headaches.

The couple, who also have a 16-month-old son Thomas, thought it would just be a case of simple short-sightedness, but further tests at Bournemouth Hospital’s Eye Unit discovered that he had childhood glaucoma.

Although glaucoma is common in adults, only one in 10,000 children suffer from it.

Within a week of being treated at Bournemouth, George was referred to see experts at the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. The family was told that, while the condition was treatable, there was no cure.

But rather than leave deflated, the Butchers have been buoyed by both their “excellent support” from Bournemouth Hospital and news that doctors expect a cure to be found during George’s lifetime and have now vowed to do everything possible to help Moorfields discover it.

Carol, 35, said: “We got the feeling from the consultant that the cure is out there and it’s a question of finding it. We wanted to raise money for funding research, but we also want to raise awareness of the importance of getting your kids’ eyes checked.”

Matt, 34, added that it was “pure chance” that George was picked up.

Fundraising is already in full swing. George’s grandparents have offered their gite in France for a week as a raffle prize, and Brittany Ferries is backing that with a £200 travel voucher.

A tea party also raised £200 and on Sunday family members took part in the New Forest half marathon to raise more.

The gite raffle and more information can be found at friendsof moorfields.org.uk.