A Willesden Green couple are holding an event on HMS Belfast to raise funds for a hospital’s neonatal ward in memory of their son who died aged two days.

%image(15564733, type="article-full", alt="Lorcan "Rocky" Deacon was born with a rare genetic condition")

Wendy and David Deacon are holding a glamorous night in a water-borne casino along with dinner, a burlesque show and a five-star raffle to raise £50,000 towards a scanner for the neonatal ward at University College London Hospital (UCLH).

Doctors at the hospital fought to save Lorcan “Rocky” Deacon’s life after he was born with a rare genetic condition on August 11 last year, but he tragically lost his battle and died in his parents’ arms two days later.

Mr and Mrs Deacon, who are originally from Ireland, have already raised £25,000 of their fundraising target and are hoping ticket sales for the ‘Bond on the Belfast’ night along with further donations will help them reach their goal.

They said: “We get great comfort from the fact that he might not have been here very long but his life will have meant something.

%image(15564734, type="article-full", alt="The Deacons are encouraging readers to support Lorcan's legacy by joining them for an evening aboard the HMS Belfast")

“We are determined to raise an ambitious £50,000 to give other little fighters a better chance of survival by providing essential equipment. It will also provide training to help parents through the excruciating experience of having a sick baby and the absolute horror of losing a child.”

Tickets for the gala evening on board HMS Belfast on April 15 cost £150 and are available from bit.ly/1RhCW88.

Raffle tickets with prizes including a boat trip Porsche and Aston Martin track days, a hotel weekend in Monte Carlo and Martini lessons can be bought separately for £10 and are available from bit.ly/1RhCW88.

To donate see the Little Lorcan fundraising page at bit.ly/1VzbGHv.