A MUM with a rare genetic condition that will eventually rob her of her hearing has been raising awareness of the illness.

Derrie Tustin visited Cranham Primary School in Worcester to talk about neurofibromatosis, a neuro-genetic condition.

Pupils collected nearly £300 for the Neuro Foundation, a charity that helps people with the condition.

Youngsters wore blue for a day to raise awareness of the condition and heard how pupil Kai Collins's mum Derrie Tustin suffers from a variant of it called NF2.

The rare genetic misprint causes tumours to grow in the nervous system, particularly the brain and spine, which are mainly benign but can cause hearing loss, deafness and mobility problems.

Miss Tustin undergoes regular chemotherapy treatment to keep the tumours in check but has been told eventually she will need surgery that will leave her deaf.

She said: "The chemo keeps it stable but if I have the surgery I will lose my hearing.

"I'm putting it off as long as possible.

"It's genetic so Kai will also have to be tested.

"I have had it since I was born but I wasn't aware of it until after I had Kai and the tumours reacted to the hormones and grew while I was pregnant.

"NF1 is more common but NF2 is really rare. You look fine on the outside so nobody really knows anything.

"That's why we are trying to raise awareness."

She added: "The pupils are all wearing blue and special t-shirts and they did an assembly about it.

"They raised £279.93 for the Neuro Foundation."

The day took place on Wednesday, May 17.