AT two-and-a-half, Logan Goodall does not say a word, while four-month-old Kayleigh Finnemore suffers up to ten fits a day and may be blind.

The two tots are the latest local children facing the toughest of starts in life to be supported by Didcot fundraisers Thong Rangers, who have raised more than £100,000 since 2001 for poorly children and local charities.

The fundraising group, which originally raised money for Sobell House, Oxford, ten years ago, will launch their latest campaign to buy sensory equipment for the two infants at their annual family fun day on Monday, August 30.

In June, Logan was diagnosed with autism after a week-long assessment at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

His parents had been worried about his development since he was ten months old,.

Mother Miriam Sear, 26, of Goldsmiths Terrace, Walling-ford, said: “He cannot communicate at the moment. He cannot talk and he does not even babble.

“He is as good as gold, but it is difficult because as he is getting older, he cannot meet or communicate with other children.”

Now a toddler, he still can only eat puréed food.

Kayleigh suffers a rare genetic condition that left her without the part of her brain which communicates between the right and left side.

At four months, she is still unable to sit up on her own, may be blind, and suffers fits and spasms every day.

Mother Shannon McGuigan, 16, of Mendip Heights, Didcot, said: “After she was born, she had a little twitch, and just carried on having them.

“At 17 days, we took her to the doctor, and was told to go up to the JR. That was when we found out she had Aicardi syndrome.”

When she has fits, her parents are helpless to do anything except watch to ensure it does not get any worse.

Miss McGuigan said: “We have been told the condition is life-limiting: she won’t have the same life expectancy as we do.

“She is not developing as normal babies do.

“We know she has cysts on her brain, and we just don’t know if she can see or not.”

Money raised by the Thong Rangers will be used to buy sensory play equipment for Logan, and a special hi-tech mat that will alert Kayleigh’s parents if she is in danger during one of her fits.

The group is holding the family-friendly day at Didcot Town FC from midday on Bank Holiday Monday, including stalls, classic cars, food, music, a bouncy castle, and a musical talent competition.

Organiser Claire Hughes said: “We are delighted to run this event for both Kayleigh and Logan. As a team, we all work together to make events like this a success, and we are hoping for a good turn-out from the public, who support us so much each year.”