A family fun day has raised more than £6,000 for a Newton Abbot charity that helps families of children with life limiting conditions.

The Stanley Beau Foundation raised £6080 from its event at the Newton Abbot Rec Centre on June 29.

The charity was set up five years ago by Emma Murphy after her son, Stanley, died at the age of four after being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Tay-Sachs disease.

Funds from the day will be used to provide holidays and short breaks for children with a life limiting disease and their families.

‘Thank you to everyone who helped and showed their support. I can’t tell you what it means,’ Emma said.

The Stanley Beau Foundation has exclusive hire of a specially adapted lodge at the Finlake resort near Chudleigh. Holidays for bereaved families are also provided by Lady’s Mile Holiday Park in Dawlish.

The lodge and hot tub breaks cost around £1200 per week and the charity has provided over 85 holidays since it was set up.

As well as providing short breaks, the Stanley Beau Foundation operates a telephone support line offering comfort and advice to families.

Eventually, Emma hopes the charity can raise enough money to buy its own purpose-built respite house or lodge, which will also include a day centre, with a hydro pool, sensory room and gardens.

This was the charity’s second family fun day fundraiser. Last year’s event generated nearly £5000.

Emma set up the charity to help other families of children with life-limiting conditions by providing them with the chance to spend some time together.

‘Sometimes, just to be a normal family together for a few days, without the professionals visiting and without hospital visits, can be enough to stave off the overwhelm of living with a child with a life-limiting illness,’ she explained.