TO look at the charming smile of ten-year-old Jenny Lloyd, it is hard to tell that she is anything other than a healthy schoolgirl.

But the smile hides the effects of a life-changing condition, with which Jenny was diagnosed just over three years ago.

The brave St Mary's Primary School pupil is one of only six known sufferers of an extremely rare form of a condition called polyglandular Addisons disease. It causes her to become ill when she is surprised.

So little is known about the illness that a campaign called Jenny's Pennies has been set up to raise cash towards more research.

Jenny and her parents Amanda and Robert Lloyd, of Glebelands Road, Prestwich, are now gearing up for a grand sale of arts and crafts on March 2 - Mothers' Day - after the regular service at St Mary's Church.

Amanda has appealed for as many people as possible to dig deep and support the event - and grab a bargain in the process.

"It is great, everyone has pitched in. My mum and dad, who live in Cornwall, have made some watercolours and woodwork. Royal Manchester Children's Hospital has donated a huge panda toy, which is to be raffled. The only thing we are missing now is people to buy," said. Amanda.

Jenny was diagnosed with the condition in August 2004 after three weeks of tests, which had doctors scratching their heads because the condition is so rare.

Polyglandular Addison's disease isn't a genetic illness. It occurs when the part of the body that produces adrenaline is damaged, causing the sufferer's body to go into shock when something out of the ordinary happens.

Amanda said: "When anything particularly good or bad happens, we have to handle it very carefully so it doesn't surprise Jenny or it will make her ill. When we go on holiday, we have to make sure we know there is a hospital nearby. We just always have to expect the unexpected."

She added: "It is quite demanding on us all, especially her brother Thomas, who is 14. He sometimes find it frustrating and hard to understand.

"And though the staff at her school handle it really well, it can be difficult there because she looks like any other child, but it's hard to make people understand that when she gets upset, even over something small, it's not something she can get over quickly."

Despite the setback, Jenny has remained active since being diagnosed. She plays netball for school, dances with a local group and is always keen to fundraise.

To date, the youngster has circulated a collection box, served afternoon tea for friends and cleaned cars and rooms for family members.

Money raised from the Mother's Day event will go to the Jenny's Pennies Appeal for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital endocrine unit, which treats and research conditions like polyglandular Addisons disease.

"Jenny has learned a lot about her condition in the last few years and we are all really proud of how she deals with it. She spends a lot of time around poorly children at the hospital, which has definitely helped her." said Amanda.

To find out more about the Jenny's Pennies Appeal, call Amanda on (0161) 773 7578.