A FUNDRAISING fight event for a boy in Colwyn Bay will take place on Saturday, 9 April.

In December 2021, eight-year-old Alfie Lovelady was diagnosed with Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare hereditary condition that damages the membrane (myelin sheath) that insulates nerve cells in the brain.

The debilitative disease causes a progressive loss of physical and cognitive skills, and despite therapy and treatment, there is no cure.

North Wales Pioneer: Alfie was described as a "cheeky monkey" by his uncle. Picture: Neil LoveladyAlfie was described as a "cheeky monkey" by his uncle. Picture: Neil Lovelady

Alfie’s uncle, Neil Lovelady, said that the period since Christmas has been extremely difficult for the family, with Alfie becoming more and more dependent on others.

Mr Lovelady said: “It’s been a hell of ride since Christmas, he was a perfect young boy a week before Christmas.

“And then ever since then he’s started losing his mobility, lost his ability to be able to feed himself, he’s had to have a peg tube in now so it’s disheartening to see him like that.”

Alfie's younger brother Noah and older brother William have also shown traces of the condition, with Noah displaying signs of the disease, while William carries the gene but is not thought to be at as much risk.

Neither brother has yet shown signs of a cerebral strain of the condition, unlike Alfie.

With a fight event already planned at The Barn, a gym in Colwyn Bay, some of Mr Lovelady’s colleagues suggested that they use the occasion to raise awareness of the disease, shine a spotlight on Alfie, and raise money for charity.

“My boss and one of my work colleagues were fighting on the event anyway.

“Everyone around us, including the people I work with, are all very closely connected and what they wanted to do was find a way they could possibly bring a little bit of attention towards Alfie.

“A couple of locals suggested that it might be a good way of raising money for Alfie and for charity, and we thought it would be a good way of bringing the community together.”

“We want to increase awareness about the disease so other people are aware of what it is, how it affects children and how it affects the families involved.”

The event has been organised by Chris Edgehill, and will see Neil Lovelady’s boss Bobby Gaze take on Daniel Pritchard in the ring.

ALD affects approximately one in 17,000 people, and symptoms of ALD often begin between the ages of 4 and 10.

For more information on ALD, click here.