Ayr mother Hayley Spencer leads battle against disease that took her daughter’s life

A North Queensland mother says she’ll do “everything she physically can” to end the disease that took her daughter’s life.

A heartbroken family who lost their baby girl when she was only nine weeks old says they will fight until there is a cure to the disease that took their daughter’s life.

North Queensland couple Hayley Spencer and her partner Grant Taylor lost their daughter, Alayah, to a serious and degenerative form of mitochondrial disease in April this year.

The illness, which destroys the essential building blocks of the body’s living cells, can cause organ systems and bodies to fail.

Hayley Spencer speaks at a recent fundraiser set up to help mitochondrial disease patients.

In its most severe forms, it is almost always fatal to children within five years.

While Alayah tragically passed just nine weeks after being born, her parents haven’t let her death be in vain.

Her mother Hayley, who lives in Ayr, has spent the last few months organising a fundraising event that ended up bringing hundreds of Ayr residents out to fight the disease that claimed her daughter’s life.

Ayr mum Hayley Spencer tragically lost her nine-week-old daughter Alayah to mitochondrial disorder. Picture: Supplied

Packing into Plantation Park on Sunday, September 25, around 70 stalls selling all kinds of goods, as well as live entertainment, raised more than $6000 for the Mito Foundation, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness, and finding a cure.

Ms Spencer said she prays that the effort would one day pay off, and prevent any other families from experiencing the pain that hers has.

Ms Spencer and her partner Grant lead a march to Plantation Park in Ayr.

“My family felt alone when we heard of Alayah’s mito diagnosis, and I don’t want that for any other family,” Ms Spencer said.

“No parent should have to watch their newborn suffer, knowing that there is nothing they can do to help and that any day could be their last.

“I want to raise as much money and awareness as I physically can to support the research driven by the Mito Foundation, and I pray that one day there will be a cure for this horrible disease.”

If you are interested in donating to the effort, you can do so through Alayah’s Mighty Hearts page. All proceeds donated go to the Mito Foundation.

Originally published as Ayr mother Hayley Spencer leads battle against disease that took her daughter’s life