The family of 9-year-old Valencia Mikaere who suffers from a rare skin disease are thankful for the strong support they've received from the Owhata community.
In an effort to help raise funds for the family an event was held at the weekend, the Valencia Road to recovery - Angels for Valencia and raised $5,000 dollars.
Eleanor Mahaki who helped organise the event says “the community is looking out for the whānau and is doing everything they can to help Valencia and her mother Ene Mikaere who stays with her daughter at the hospital.”
Te Kaea understands Valencia has been diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome a painful skin disease.
“It really hits home when you see a good whānau like this one experience something like this. We had two weeks to pull off an event that would have likely taken months to organise and I’m happy that we have achieved it” says Mahaki.
Our reporter Mere McLean talks to Ene Mikaere later today for more on this story watch Te Kāea 5:30pm on Māori Television.