Nearly £900 was raised across five local schools last Friday when they took part in a non-uniform day with a red hearts theme to raise awareness of Kawasaki Disease.

Reuben Freegard, who attends Dunster First School, and his family have been raising awareness of the disease since his diagnosis in February 2017.

As well as his school, Timberscombe, Old Cleeve, St Michael’s and Minehead Middle also took part.

Kawasaki Disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the UK, and with awareness still very low, children often get mis-diagnosed and there is a delay in treatment.

“This is something which needs to change, we need people to always be thinking Kawasaki Disease rather than considering it as a last resort,” said Reuben’s mum Lisa.

“International Kawasaki Disease Awareness day falls on January 26 as that was the day it was ‘discovered’ by Dr Tomisaku Kawasaki back in 1961,” said Lisa.

“Having a dedicated day set aside to remind people of the symptoms and tell people who may not have heard about it before is so important, although every day is an awareness day to us.”

Symptoms to look out for include persistent fever, bloodshot eyes, cracked lips and/or strawberry tongue, rash, swollen fingers or toes, and swollen galnds.

For more information on Kawasaki Disease and the work which Societi is carrying out, or to donate, visit www.societi.org.uk