TWO-year-old Isabella Richards from Farnham has become an internet sensation this Christmas after starring in the music video for The X Factor-winner Matt Terry’s debut single, in aid of Shooting Star Chase.

‘Bella’ was born in March, 2015, to parents Katie Steele and William Richards and was soon diagnosed with Cri du Chat, a very rare chromosome deletion syndrome that leaves her unable to crawl or walk due to the condition slowing her development.

Cri du Chat affects around one in 50,000 babies a year and, as there is currently no cure or treatment, Bella is not expected to live beyond her fifth birthday.

This year’s X Factor charity single, When Christmas Comes Around sung by 2016 winner Matt Terry, is in aid of Shooting Star Chase, the leading children’s hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families in Surrey.

Bella and her family have benefited greatly from this charity over the past year, and the Farnham youngster has appeared twice in appeal films aired during the semi-final and final of The X Factor, as well as the music video for the winner’s single - playing gleefully at the charity’s Christopher’s hospice in Guildford.

Mum Katie said she was “very emotional” watching Bella in the video and, speaking to The Herald, added the courageous toddler can now sit up on her own, and is a very happy little girl despite her illness.

Discussing her family’s experience of Shooting Star Chase, Katie continued: “There are some lovely families at the hospice and the staff are incredible, they will go the extra mile to do things. It’s just an amazing place and had a massive impact on our lives.

“They were teaching Bella to blow kisses and to say ‘bye’, and she does pick things up. She usually self harms quite a lot to get stimulation, but when she’s there she doesn’t do it as much. Because we’ve four other children, she’s always overstimulated at home, but Chase is so chilled out.

“It’s quite nice for her to go there and relax, and for everything to be about Bella.

“We also get home hospice through Chase, so we have a lady, Sophie, who comes out every two weeks for three or four hours to look after Bella, so we can go out and do something with our other kids.”

On Sunday, January 1, Katie has nominated herself to brave the shave and cut off her hair for charity, with all proceeds going towards the Cri Du Chat Syndrome Support Group and Shooting Star Chase.

But it won’t be the first time she has raised money for charity, and in December last year, Katie and husband Will, alongside friends and family, donned festive outfits as they raced around a muddy field with Bella to raise as much as they could for their precious little girl.

People of all age and fitness were invited to run, walk, hop or skip the mile-long assault course for £5 each – with festive fancy dress being optional – and all funds raised (£1,000) were contributed directly towards making Bella’s life easier.

“Her prognosis is ‘early childhood’, about five years, that hasn’t changed,” Katie continued. “Bella has come along in the sense that she can sit up, but she’s nowhere near to walking and I don’t think she ever will.

“But she’s a lot more interactive now, and it’s like all of a sudden she woke up and she interacts with people, and she’s always happy. Always smiling, always so happy.”

David Burland, chief executive of Shooting Star Chase expressed his delight at being announced as joint beneficiaries of the X Factor charity single.

He said that families who have a child with a life-limiting condition have to cope with circumstances very few people ever have to imagine. And that Shooting Star Chase exists to make every moment count for these families, not just with highly skilled medical care but also creating special memories that will last forever.

“It costs £10 million every year to provide that vital care at our hospices and in families’ homes across London and Surrey. We are extremely grateful to our friends at X Factor,” added David.

“Their support is a lovely Christmas present to us, and I would encourage everyone to buy the charity single and help give sick children, and their families, a Christmas to remember.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news and see how Isabella is doing by checking out the Facebook page ‘Isabella’s Cri Du Chat Journey’, which currently has more than 1,768 followers.