THE Ward family on the Isle of Wight have a steep personal mountain to climb — and need your help to reach a goal very close to their hearts.

Jess and Dan’s adorable son, Teddy, aged 22 months, has been diagnosed with the life-limiting condition, mitochondrial disease.

But Dan, an Isle of Wight Rugby Club player and physio, has enlisted the support of his clubmates to take on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge, to raise money for research into the disease.

Isle of Wight County Press: Isle of Wight Rugby Club players will be taking on the Three Peaks Challenge for a charity that funds research into Teddy's life-limiting condition. Isle of Wight Rugby Club players will be taking on the Three Peaks Challenge for a charity that funds research into Teddy's life-limiting condition. (Image: Jess and Dan Ward)

In September, Dan and a team of nine will attempt to conquer Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon — setting themselves a minimum target of raising £10,000 for the Lily Foundation, a charity dedicated to funding vital research to find a cure and support families of children with mitochondrial disease.

Here's how you can help support the fundraiser

Follow the 'Team Teddy' link to enter the dedicated JustGiving page

Dan said: “At 11am on January 24, we were told Teddy has the life-limiting mitochondrial disease — and an extremely rare defective gene (DNAJC19).

“This causes something called dilated cardiomyopathy, which is the degeneration of Teddy's heart.

Isle of Wight County Press:

“To the doctors’ knowledge, Teddy is one of only 55 children in the world to carry this, and the only known case in the UK, so we have limited research — and unfortunately no cure.

“We want to help Teddy and to give hope to all those affected by mitochondrial disease.

“Please help in any way you can to fight the most cruel of diseases — and we will carry on making sure our 'Mito-Bear', Teddy, continues to thrive, be the happiest little boy and live the best of lives.”

As well as Dan, the Rangers who have signed up for the challenge are brothers Luke and Dave Blackman, James Bradshaw, George Huish, Claire Mumford, Michael Joyce, Nick Blyth, Kieran Leahy and Sam McQueen.

The club is also raising funds to give the Ward family the chance to make memories with Teddy and organised a race night on July 19.

Dan added: "It is at times like this you find out who your friends are.

"The love and support we've had — not only from our rugby family, but the whole Island community — has been so heartening."

Wightlink will supply transport support to the appeal.

The company's commercial director, Phil Delaney, said: “Stories like this are truly heart-wrenching and we're happy to support the Ward family.”