A NINE-MONTH-OLD baby girl who suffers from a rare genetic condition has inspired her dad to brave a body wax to raise funds and awareness for her condition.

Little Bethany Leonard sufferers from congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a life-long condition which affects the adrenal glands.

Her dad, 30-year-old Daniel Leonard, will be braving a leg, back and chest wax at a Weymouth beauty salon to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The money will be donated to the endocrine research fund at the hospital, which receives limited funding as the condition is not very widely known.

Bethany's mum, 33-year-old Vicki Leonard said: "CAH is a very complex and not very well-known condition.

"Bethany is at risk from fatal adrenal crisis from minor illnesses.

"Something as simple as a fever, diarrhoea or vomiting can be life threatening.

"She has to have emergency medication with her at all times.

"It is a constant worry but we have relaxed a lot more now we have got used to it and had all our firsts.

"She had to have her first emergency injection when she was 17 days old."

It is CAH awareness month in June so Daniel, who works as a support worker, will be heading to La Confidential in the Colwell Shopping Centre in Weymouth on Saturday, June 13 at 1pm to brave the wax.

Vicki, a full-time mum to Bethany said: "She may be the happiest baby ever she smiles all day every day.

"Her birth was quite traumatic.

"We were in hospital for some time while they ran tests and monitored her.

"We are therefore trying to create new and happier memories to mark her first birthday in July.

"I don't know how I managed to persuade him, I think a few of us were just talking and somehow managed to make him agree to do it.

"When we went to meet Sally, who is doing the wax, she spoke to him about it and managed to calm him down a bit."

The Weymouth couple will also be hosting a raffle at the salon to further increase their funds.

Vicki said: "We've had amazing feedback from people about the raffle and we have already got a lot, from vouchers to handmade crafts.

"We have so far raised just under £300 but I am hoping to raise about £500.

"I know it's not much but, for research, any contribution is positive.

"Its all about getting the name of CAH out there."

To sponsor Vicki and her husband Daniel and help raise funds for CAH visit justgiving.com/V-Leonard81/ or text BCAH87 to 70070

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e: meghan.hindley@dorsetecho.co.uk

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