Friends of a boy who suffers from severe food allergies spent the morning wearing heavy backpacks to understand some of the difficulties he faces.

North Somerset Times: Morgan Burkinshaw with his sister Grace.Morgan Burkinshaw with his sister Grace. (Image: Archant)

Nine-year-old Morgan Burkinshaw, who attends Backwell Junior School, suffers from eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) and multiple food allergies which give him chronic stomach cramps, aches and pains and insomnia.

Last summer he was feeling so ill he was fitted with a feeding tube and now receives an elemental formula via a pump which he carries in his backpack.

Morgan has been raising awareness of his rare condition and earlier this year he gave a five-minute presentation to the class on his illness and how it affects his family.

To show their support for Morgan, his class 4M, wore backpacks weighing 2.5kg for the morning and discovered what it is like for Morgan to carry it around on a daily basis.

His mum Rachel said: “The fundraiser went really well and Morgan was thrilled with the support shown by his friends. We were all impressed his class teacher and the teaching assistants in his class also wore backpacks until lunchtime, so the children didn’t feel as if they were doing it on their own.”

The class raised £15 for the Families Affected by Eosinophilic Disorders (FABED) support group.

The children said it was difficult sitting down and running with the backpack on and one classmate said: “Now we know how hard it is, it’s amazing what Morgan has to put up with every day.”

Morgan is trying new food every 10 days to see if he has a reaction. When he is able to eat 12 foods safely he can stop using the pump.