A fundraising campaign has been launched to help a young disabled Carlisle teenager who is fighting for his life in hospital.

Harley Andrews, 15, is currently in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary on the neurological ward.

Harley has been in and out of hospital most of his life.

He suffered twin to twin transfusion syndrome while inside his mother Melissa’s womb and weighed just 1lb 9oz when born.

He has cerebral palsy and is unable to walk, talk or swallow.

His parents, Melissa – who works at Ann Summers in Carlisle – and Peter, are at his bedside and are juggling hospital visits while trying to care for their three other sons: Luke, Owen and Harrison.

Melissa’s friend, Nicola Clulow, has launched a justgiving page to help the family at the time of need.

She hopes to raise £2,000 – with £1,200 raised so far.

Nicola said: “Harley has been in and out of hospital most of his life and now has a tracheostomy and oxygen at home to help him stay alive as well as being wheelchair dependent and fed by a tube in his tummy.

“His parents have been through hell but still smile and remain positive throughout.

“In the last year alone Harley has fought and beaten two long bouts of Sepsis but has now been floored by his epilepsy.

“He is having hundreds of seizures every day and is not getting any rest because the seizures when he’s asleep are the worst.

“After five long weeks waiting for a suitable bed on the neurological ward at the RVI he’s now in good hands but seriously ill.

“They might have to put him on steroids but that would compromise his immune system and during the winter months that is the worst time.

Harley is friends with Nicola’s son Cameron and the pair, who have been friends since nursery, attend James Rennie School together.

Nicola said: “Money can’t make Harley better, obviously it can’t, but Peter and Melissa still have three other boys to look after and bills to pay and I know from my own experience how expensive and stressful it can be to have to virtually live in the hospital.

“I just wanted to help in some way and hope to raise some money for the family to show they are loved and cared about.

“Harley will beat this – he’s a little fighter but the family need your help to remove some of the daily stress so they can remain constantly by his bedside and Cameron my son needs his best pal back.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nicola-clulow