A campaign to raise cash for hospital equipment has been turned into a charity.

Colette and Paul Murphy set up the Breathe campaign last summer.

It was a way of saying thank you for the care given to their seriously ill son Harry, who was only a few days old when he was taken to Worthing Hospital with a viral infection.

His condition deteriorated and he was transferred to Southampton General, where it was found he had had a brain haemorrhage.

Harry is now 11 months old and has been diagnosed with hemiplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, which has left him with a weakness on his right side, a squint in his left eye and some development problems.

He is attending specialist play therapy, physiotherapy and special needs sessions and is progressing well.

Mrs Murphy, 34, from Worthing, said: "He has such a wonderful personality. We wanted to raise money for the children's unit at Worthing Hospital but managed to raise far more than we intended.

"As things started to snowball we realised the best thing to do would be to create a charity. The charity's aim is to help make a difference to children's lives in some way."

About £20,000 has been raised since Breathe started and money has already gone towards two patient monitors for the special care baby unit and children's ward at Worthing Hospital.

Specialist toys are also being bought for the physiotherapy and child development teams.

A fund-raising charity ball is planned for The Grand hotel in Brighton on May 10.

It will include a charity auction and raffle with prizes, including trips to EuroDisney, a two-day cruise to Amsterdam and sports memorabilia.

For details about breathe, call Mrs Murphy on 01903 531848.