KEEN amateur footballers from Wyre Forest District Council will be kicking off in a charity soccer match to raise vital funds to help a colleague's child.

Staff from the council's waste and parks and open spaces team will face each other on the pitch at Wilden Sports Club on Saturday (July 30) in the hope of raising money to buy a specially adapted equipment for Megan "Meggie" Ford.

Megan - the daughter of waste minimisation officer, Jo Ford - was born with a rare disorder, Trisomy 9 Mosaic (T9M), caused by having three copies of chromosome number nine in her body. The disorder means she cannot sit or stand unaided.

Earlier this month, her family launched a campaign to purchase a special chair to help transform the toddler's life.

The Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children has pledged more than £300 towards the full cost of buying the seat - called a P-Pod.

After seeing a story about the appeal in The Shuttle, Eric Harvey - who set up Vickie's Wish in memory of his daughter who died of Leukaemia in 2013 - donated more than £600 to the appeal.

Mr Harvey organises monthly charity quizzes and used funds raised from these to make the donation. He said he aims to establish Vickie's Wish as a registered charity.

If the football match raises more funds than required for the seat which costs over a £1,000, it will be used for equipment for a new sensory room Meggie's family are creating for her in their home.

Mrs Ford said: "At the moment Meggie has to be held all the time or placed on the floor at home, but with Megan's twin brother, Oliver, and older siblings six-year-old Hayden, seven-year-old Ethan and 13-year-old sister Nicole to take off, this is not ideal.

"We have been overwhelmed by people's generosity since our appeal was featured in the local press.

"I would like to thank everyone, especially all my colleagues at Wyre Forest District Council for all their fundraising efforts."

Meggie needs to be tube fed as she can't swallow safely and needs oxygen at night or when she is unwell, as she has respiratory difficulties.

She also has learning difficulties, fused kidneys, a hole in the heart, a severe curvature of the spine and has hearing and sight difficulties.

The family has set up a Facebook page 'Megan; Trisomy 9 Mosaic Star' for regular updates about Meg.

They have also set up a Go Fund Me page, which can be found at gofundme.com/2czhe3w.