TWO mothers have joined forces to try to persuade people to show greater sensitivity towards children who, for medical reasons, may look different from others.

Sarah Tompkin’s son Daniel Weale, four, was born with severe respiratory difficulties and had a tracheotomy operation when he was just six weeks old and Yvette Floyd’s daughter, 16-month-old Poppy, suffers from a number of birthmarks on her face.

The friends, who met through their partners, Vinnie and Gavin, have organised a charity night to raise money and awareness after becoming upset by the amount of people staring at their children while in public.

Sarah, 31, of Connah’s Quay wants to raise money for Ronald McDonald House which gives parents the chance to stay near their hospitalised children for free.

She said: “We spend a lot of time at Alder Hey (Hospital, Liverpool) because of Daniel’s tracheotomy. We tend to go there every three months and stay for two weeks at a time.

“It’s a fantastic place and has been a Godsend over the past few years. The people there are fantastic.”

It was thought Daniel may never speak because of his condition, but he is now talking and could have the tracheotomy removed.

Sarah said: “It is a case of wait and see. It depends if he is strong enough. If it does not happen now, it is something we are hoping will happen when he is older. It’s been a struggle over the last few years.

“It is important that these kids get treated the same as everybody else. It is upsetting when they stare,

“Daniel is at that age now where he notices. We do not mind people asking; it’s the staring.”

Yvette, 31, from Shotton, a nurse at the Countess of Chester hospital, wants to raise money and awareness for the Birthmark Support Group.

She said: “I’m doing it because of Poppy. She is going to have to have quite a few operations before any of them go. They won’t be able to do anything until she gets to school age.

“Her sister, Lilly, hasn’t got them and they don’t really know why she has them.

“I want to raise awareness of birthmarks because people are very ignorant with regards to staring at her. It is horrible when they stare. People just stare and you can tell they are doing it. People can be very cruel, adults can be very ignorant.”

Raffle prizes from local businesses, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Chester Lions and a signed football from Everton FC, have been donated for the event at Connah’s Quay Labour Club on Saturday, May 29, at 7.30pm with tickets priced £5.

For more information call 07540927942 or 07816112957.