MUSIC stars showed their support for a Flintshire organisation which raises awareness of disability.

The Hoosiers, who performed at Llanfest at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on Sunday, took time out from their busy schedule to meet Isaac Hughes and his mother Ceridwen.

Isaac is one of only 200 people in the UK who has Moebius Syndrome, a condition that causes facial paralysis.

As the inspiration for his mother’s arts organisation, Mold-based Same but Different CIC, Isaac was helping Ceridwen highlight the importance of raising awareness of the impact of rare diseases.

In addition to meeting with Isaac, Alan Sharland of the Hoosiers, told the packed concert venue about Same but Different and highlighted that one in 17 people are affected by some type of rare disease.

He called on people to support the organisation by voting for them in the National Lottery awards, in which it is competing for the title of ‘Best Arts Project’.

Same but Different beat competition from more than 700 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding.

The organisation with the most votes will be crowned the winner and receive a £5,000 cash prize and a National Lottery Awards trophy.

Ceridwen Hughes, photographer and founder of the Same but Different, said: “Reaching the finals of the awards is a great honour and we are up against some very stiff competition.

"For us the awards provide yet more opportunities to highlight the people behind rare disease and disabilities. "We feel incredibly privileged that people let us into their lives and help them share their stories through the images and narratives we produce.

"The project cannot make people better or help them find a miraculous cure but it can help people who feel isolated and in need to reach out to their community, breaking down barriers of isolation.

"Funding from the Big Lottery Fund Wales has allowed us to reach huge numbers of people with our projects.”

Alan Sharland said of the organisation: “It's inspiring what Same but Different are doing supporting people that so often are overlooked, so please give them your support and get voting.”

To vote for Same but Different go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/rare-aware or tweet your support by using the hashtag #NLARareAware.

Voting runs until midnight on July 27. To see Same but Different’s online exhibitions, visit www.samebutdifferentcic.org.uk