A BRAVE nine-year-old boy with a degenerative genetic disease is going on the trip of a lifetime thanks to the generosity and hard work of his school friends.

Leo Olivacce, 9, was diagnosed with Batten Disease in May, a condition which will lead to him losing his sight, mobility and eventually prove fatal.

But thanks to the hard work of his classmates at Holy Family Primary School, on Maltings Lane, Witham, Leo and his family are setting off on holiday to Disneyland Paris on Saturday, just in time for his tenth birthday.

Lara Olivacce, Leo’s mother, said: "The school have been great since his diagnosis and have tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

“The whole situation is completely unexpected and overwhelming.

“It just shows how much the local community can come together for something like this."

One of the mums from the school, Lisa Corbett, began raising money for Leo almost immediately after hearing of his diagnosis and soon contacted the school who were more than happy to get involved.

Staff, parents and pupils have raised money with cake sales, non-uniform days, inflatables events and a giving tree scheme at Christmas; all adding up to enough to send Leo and his whole family to meet his favourite character Buzz Lightyear during the four night trip.

Ann Kelliher, head teacher at the Holy Family Primary School, said: “We wanted Leo to have lots of memories with his family.

“Where his eyesight is deteriorating quite rapidly it is important to get these things done as soon as possible so he has visual memories as well.”

Despite living his condition, Leo is a hugely popular figure amongst his classmates and has been described as an active and positive child.

Mrs Olivacce has been working tirelessly since her son's diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease, which only affects around 100 children in the UK, and raise as much money as possible for the Batten Disease Family Association.

She said: “He has had a couple of moments where he has been caught up with it and said it has ruined his life, which have been really hard for us as his family.

“We as a family just refuse to accept the disease.

"We will accept Leo as he is and no matter what he goes through – we will go through it with him.”

Visit: www.facebook.com/OurBattleAgainstBatten.