A COUPLE which has raised £20,000 for Colchester Hospital in their baby son’s memory is boosting the total further with a new event.

Andrew Foster and Catherine Alport, from Wivenhoe, have planned a book-themed event, called "Rycroft Reads," to honour their son and raise more funds.

Rycroft Alport Foster was born with the rare genetic condition, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), which meant he required a bone marrow transplant shortly after his first birthday.

Although the procedure was successful, he developed a chest infection during recovery and died last summer at just 16 months old.

Since his death, Andrew and Catherine have raised more than £60,000 for three charities which supported Rycroft, including Colchester's children's ward, run by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).

The couple hope the hospital's share of the proceeds from the new fundraiser will help create a reading corner in the hospital's neonatal unit.

Catherine said: "Rycroft loved books and reading to him during his hospital stays brought us a huge amount of comfort – and entertainment.

"Stories can be immensely powerful, and we are thrilled that two talented authors are coming to Wivenhoe to celebrate Rycroft’s life and help continue to fundraise in his name, which will in turn help other children and their families who are spending time on the children’s ward at Colchester."

It will feature authors Evie Wyld and Karen McLeod in conversation, who will share the inspiration behind their writing, share stories from their lives as authors, and read from their new books.

Penny Norris, community fundraising manager with Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity, which supports ESNEFT’s services, said: "The generosity of Andrew, Catherine and their friends and family has already made a huge difference to others receiving care at the hospital.

"We are incredibly grateful for the fundraising they have carried out in Rycroft’s memory."

Tickets for Rycroft Reads cost £15 and include a soft drink or glass of wine.

The "Rycroft Reads" event will take place at the Nottage Institute on Wivenhoe Quay on Friday, October 4, beginning at 7pm.

For more information on the event visit the Wivenhoe Books website via wivenhoebooks.com.