MEET Bridgwater’s Libby Budden, nine, and Jenson Bryant, five.

For all intents and purposes they are very normal happy children, but both live with rare illnesses that have enormous impacts on both their own and their families’ lives.

Now, thanks to a fitness instructor with a “heart of gold”, a special Valentine’s Ball is being held at North Petherton Rugby Club to raise money to help Libby and Jenson.

Libby’s mum, Katrina, said: “Me and Jenson’s mum, Melanie, have become good friends through a fitness class run by Natalie Roberts.

“Natalie is an amazing person with a can-do attitude and when she heard us talking about our children and their conditions, she decided she wanted to do something to help and that’s how this idea for a ball started.”

Libby was diagnosed with a condition called neurofibromatosis when she was three. It is a genetic condition which causes tumours to grow on nerve endings throughout the whole body.

Libby, a Bridgwater College Academy pupil, has an optic pathway glaucoma eye tumour and a cervical spine tumour.

Her condition has led to a number of other problems including learning difficulties, sensory processing disorder and an eating disorder.

She has an MRI scan every year to check on the growth of her tumours.

“Libby’s future is uncertain,” Mrs Budden said. “Due to her condition no-one can predict what will happen and when. But despite everything she is a beautiful and funny nine-year-old who always has a smile on her face.”

Meanwhile, superhero fan Jenson lives with a combination of conditions having been diagnosed with both type 1 diabetes and cerebral palsy.

His mum Melanie said: “Jenson was born 10 weeks early and weighed just 3lb 6oz and spent the first six weeks of his life in intensive care in Musgrove Park Hospital.

“At 13 months we took him to see a doctor when he had an ear infection and ended the week in the intensive care unit at Bristol Children’s Hospital.”

Jenson was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and five months later with cerebral palsy.

Jenson has a catch in his ankle which means he finds it natural to walk on tip-toes. This leads to poor balance and tight hamstrings.

“Doctors have prescribed special splints which he has to put on at night but they are uncomfortable,” Melanie said. “There are nights where we try to get him to wear them because we know it is what’s best for him but all three of us come away crying.”

Jenson needs specialist shoes which cost more than £100 and wear out quicker than the NHS will give them to him, so his parents are funding a new form of physiotherapy which they say is helping but costs £65 a session. He also wears a sensor which sits under his skin which costs £44 and lasts for two weeks.

Fitness instructor Natalie Roberts said: “These two little bundles of joy have so many reasons to be bitter and miserable but they are both an absolute delight. I wanted to organise this ball to help fund the equipment and medical appointments they need.”

The ball will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday, February 10, at North Petherton Rugby Club. Tickets cost £20 and can be purchased by contacting Natalie on 07474 207710.