Sutton Benger Bears take it as red to help a pal

They dressed in red for Valentine’s Day, donating £1 each for the Haemophilia Society, which helps those with the blood disorder.

Finn Macklin, four, who joined the Bears in January 2010, was diagnosed with a rare form of the illness when he was two.

Mum Sue said: “Everyone at Benger Bears has been absolutely fantastic. It’s so nice to see my son playing like an ordinary child. He is completely integrated with the other children too.

“The children aren’t really aware of his condition because they are so young. Finn isn’t really aware of it either because it’s all he has known, but he will never be able to play football or rugby because it is too dangerous.”

The family from Sutton Benger, including dad Rob, who works for the National Trust, are living in temporary accommodation in Hullavington while their home is made wheelchair-friendly. Finn needs a wheelchair if he suffers a bleed.

Mrs Macklin, who gives him seven injections through his chest every morning, said: “I am his full-time nurse.

“He always has to be with someone just in case something happens and I always have to be a certain distance away in case there is an emergency and I have to come back. Even when he is at the Bears, two lovely ladies called Vanessa and Alison are with him to make sure he doesn’t get hurt. He was in a wheelchair for 12 weeks last year because suffered a bleed in his knee joint. Sometimes we don’t know how it even happens. He can wake up and be in pain and we have to get him to the hospital.”

Haemophilia, which affects the body’s ability to control bleeding, is incurable, and Finn regularly visits hospitals in Bristol and Cardiff. Mrs Macklin said his older brother Guy, five, does not realise the extent of the special care Finn requires.

“Just like any brothers, they want to be able to rough-house and play,” she said.“The impact on all of us has been huge. ”

For more information on haemophilia, visit www.haem ophilia.org.uk