A COLCHESTER United footballer showed his support for a family trying to raise funds for a baby born with four life-threatening heart conditions.

U’s midfielder, Sammie Szmodics, was among the visitors to the weekend fundraiser for one-year-old Samuel Bethell.

Parents Victoria and Richard need to raise £4,000 to create a sensory room at their Colchester home for him.

Among other complexities, Samuel's heart has a hole in it, is upside down and facing the wrong way.

Samuel is at risk of going into cardiac arrest.

He needs distracting, otherwise his saturation levels plummet, his skin turns blue and his parents have to give him oxygen.

Samuel also suffers breathlessness if he does not rest enough.

The fundraiser, on Sunday, included a football match, bouncy castle,abarbecue and face painting.

Sammie did his bit by having a kickabout with youngsters and more than £1,000 was raised.

The overall cost of the room for Samuel is £5,000, but £1,000 has already been donated by the Wipe Away Those Tears charity.

Another £1,000 has come from public donations since the campaign launched last month.

A Paypal account has been set up for donations, at samuel.bethell@yahoo.co.uk There is also a Facebook page called Samuel’s Sensory Fundraising Page.