A MOTHER is raising money for a special reunion.

Sharron Crowther’s son Harry, 12, has an extremely rare condition which causes his body to age at five times the normal rate.

The Castle Hall School pupil suffers from progeria syndrome.

Harry has already been diagnosed with arthritis and takes painkillers four times a day to relieve him from the aches and pains a pensioner may suffer.

His skin has also started to thin as the ageing process takes hold and the bones in his fingers and collar bone have begun to erode.

Now Sharron, 41, is helping organise a get-together for 18 families from across Europe who have children with progeria syndrome.

She needs to help raise £40,000 to bring the families together for a week of fun in Kent in October.

The Mirfield woman said: “We held a reunion last year which was brilliant.

“All the families met up at a hotel and we had lots of different activities. We went to zoos and parks and had a really lovely time.

“At the end of the week Kieran Gaffney from Britain’s Got Talent came along and played the drums for us.”

Families from Belgium, Holland, Italy, France and Turkey attended last year’s event in Kent.

Sharron explained the importance of the get-together.

“The life expectancy with some forms of progeria is only 13 years so it’s very important to have these special times,” she said.

“It helps to be around other parents who understand the challenges we face.

“Harry would like to meet the other children again.”

This year’s reunion was originally supposed to be held in Portugal. However, organisers feared they would struggle to raise the £40,000 needed to put on the event, given the economic problems in the country.

The UK has stepped in to host the reunion – but British families are now scrambling to come up with enough money.

Sharon said: “We need to raise money for flights and accommodation but we’re only halfway to our goal.”

There will be a raffle and sponsored toddle at Wellhouse Pre-School in Mirfield on June 10.

To help raise money for the get-together visit the UK Progeria Reunion 2011 page on Facebook.