A five year old girl from Leicester – the only known UK sufferer of an extremely rare condition which causes growths to rapidly develop over her eyes – is to be the first child to meet Santa a Christmas fair on tomorrow – two days ahead of its public opening on Saturday 6 December.

Shinay Godfrey, a patient at Leicester’s Hospitals, was first diagnosed with the condition called Plasminogen Deficiency Type 1 when she was three. She had already endured repeated operations to her right eye to remove the growths.

Richard Gooding, consultant haematologist for Leicester’s Hospitals, explains: “The condition is incredibly rare and difficult to recognise. It is seen in perhaps one in a million people. As is the case with Shinay, the condition tends to cause sticky deposits on the eyes which harden into growths and cause significant problems with vision.”

To keep the condition under control Shinay will need to go to hospital for treatment every two weeks for the rest of her life.

Dr Gooding says: “At present there is no cure but it can be controlled with regular treatment which involves intravenous therapy every few weeks. So far her growths have not returned.”

The rarity of the condition means there is little public awareness of Plasminogen Deficiency Type 1. As a result, Shinay’s mum, Donna Godfrey is concerned sufferers don’t know what they have. She adds: “Raising awareness of this illness is very important to me. Unfortunately there are few people who understand what it is so there are few people I can talk to about it.

“That said, the support we have had from the play specialists and nurses at the Leicester Children’s Hospital has been fantastic. We are eternally grateful for their continued care and treatment.”

Santa’s Woodland Glade Grotto at Bradgate Park will be open to the public from 11am-4pm every weekend up until Christmas. All money raised will go to local charities including LOROS, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Support, Action for Children and the Leicester Hospitals Charity.

Bradgate Park Deputy Head Ranger, Matthew Molesdale, whose team are organising the Christmas Fair and Santa’s visit said: “Our first Christmas Fair last year was a great success and we were pleased to be able to team up with Action for Children to help Santa raise money for them. This year we are delighted to be extending Santa’s stay with us to help more local charities.”

Debbie Adlerstein from Leicester Hospitals Charity says: “It is great for us to be able to work together with another local charity, the Bradgate Park Trust, to help Santa put a smile on children’s faces at Christmas.”

The Christmas Fair takes place this weekend, 6th and 7th December from 10am to 3pm. It will showcase local food producers, artists and craftspeople and will feature entertainment from the Syston Brass Band, local Morris dancers and the Newtown Linford Choral Society.

For more information visit: bradgatepark.org/christmas-fair-6th-7th-december/