A local mum is appealing for support in fundraising for a toddler who has lost both his legs after a serious illness at the start of the year.

Sarah Greenham moved from Rogerstone, Newport, to Saundersfoot, eight years ago and, whilst visiting her parents back in her home town over Easter, she learnt that a school friend, who has a little boy, aged three, has been through a terrible ordeal since January.

The little boy, Luca, lost his legs after being struck down with meningococcal septicaemia in January.

He underwent a number of treatments to replace fluid and blood lost due to the septicaemia and was put on dialysis to help keep him alive.

Doctors waited to see what his body could repair before taking the decision to operate to remove his lower legs.

During the operation, Luca lost all of the tissue and skin below his hips, and has also suffered skin, tissue and muscle loss across his arms and shoulders, as well as severe damage to his knees.

Recently, Luca underwent an operation on his knees and is now starting to move his right knee. He has also had treatment to help a stomach problem he developed.

A 'Raise Your Hands For Luca' campaign was started by the three-year-old's parents, Mo Syed and Sian Williams, to help raise £1.5 million to fund prosthetic legs which will be replaced as he grows, which are not available on the NHS.

More than 800 people have now logged on to the campaign's page on the Just Giving website and donations have reached £15,640.11.

A supporter has also posted a video about the campaign on video sharing website YouTube.

To donate, visit http://www.justgiving.com/forluca">www.justgiving.com/forluca or text 'LUCA80 £5/ £10' to 70070 and for more information visit http://www.facebook.com/forluca1">www.facebook.com/forluca1 or follow @for_luca

Luca's family, who enjoy visiting Tenby and Saundersfoot each year, have have also set-up a campaign which primarily shows sign of support by people writing 'For Luca' on their hands, taking a photograph and uploading to their facebook/twitter site. This is slowly creeping to a global scale.

Added Sarah: "I have been in touch with the family and would like to do what I can from Pembrokeshire to raise funds for Luca, as the cost for his new legs (which as he has requested are blue) is huge."

"Having my own children, you realise we may some time take for granted what we have. For all of you on Facebook and Twitter, please visit 'For Luca' and support this little boy."

Sarah would like to hold a fundraising event for Luca over forthcoming months, so please keep an eye out for more details.