The Southampton community is hoping the public will support a weekend fund-raiser in aid of a three-year-old plagued with medical problems.

Fitzgerald and Shoshana Williams were warned in 2007 that their son Zion might not survive his premature birth.

He weighed one-and-a-half pounds when he was born more than four months premature on New Year's Day and battled a series of medical problems a brain haemorrhage, bowel disease, chronic lung disease, a hole in his heart and an eye problem described as retinopathy of prematurity.

About a year ago the toddler began suffering from violent cluster headaches. In April he suffered a seizure, which led to convulsions.

"He lost the use of the left side of his body and just collapsed. That was something new for us. It hadn't happened before," said Mrs. Williams

What the family now believes is that the delicate magnetic setting of the shunt in Zion's head was thrown off-kilter by a magnet in the engine of a vehicle he was in at the time.

"We've come to find that even the use of cell phones can affect his shunt," his mother added. "And where we live, we're getting an effect from a cell phone tower. Even though it's within the acceptable limits, it affects the shunt."

Medical attention for the litany of problems demands several trips abroad each year.

Although the treatment is covered by insurance, Zion's parents have had to fork out for incidentals such as airfare and hotels.

Their mounting bills drew the attention of Southampton Rangers Sports Club and sisters Crystal and Colette Lightbourne, who are hoping to raise funds for the family with a fair at the South Shore club.

"We know the family and we knew they had to keep flying out, that money was always an issue," Crystal said. "So when we decided to have this fair they were first in mind."

Added Mrs. Williams: "A lot of people don't realise, even though insurance covers all the medical costs, it's all the incidental costs for families in these situations.

"Even though we're a family of four, insurance covers for Zion and one parent to go.

"If my husband and I want to be there for Zion's appointments that means our older son gets left behind. If we want him to go along, that's another ticket to be paid for."

With two trips already this year and a third scheduled for November, the family is finding it more difficult than ever to cover their bills.

For the entire family to travel next month, they will have to fork out roughly $1000 more than what their insurance covers.

And for this upcoming trip Mrs. Williams must take unpaid leave from work.

Mrs. Williams, 33, is a corporate administrator.

Mr. Williams, 39, works for the Department of Financial Assistance.

He cited emotional stress and health difficulties such as high blood pressure and weight gain, as side effects of the problems the family faces.

"Our families have been very supportive but for us it's been an emotional roller coaster, and we haven't really had much down time to enjoy one another," he said.

"Certainly it has the potential to do one of two things, either split us up or bring us closer together. Let's just say it's done both."

Zion has exceeded all expectations, Mr. Williams said.

He attributed much of that progress to the influence of Zion's eight-year-old brother, Zaire.

His development overall has gone as far as it has just because of the interaction with his brother. His brother's very protective," Mr. Williams said.

The three-year-old is a student at Chatter Tots Discovery Nursery in Warwick.

The family celebrated in May after he was able to spend his first full week there.

They are now hoping he will be well enough to attend the Candy Land Fair with them.

Mrs. Williams said: "Crystal and I used to work together and she's kept in close contact but it was still a surprise when she told us part of the proceeds from the fair were going to Zion. We didn't expect that at all."

The fair runs today from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children and will feature music, dance, Gombeys, rides and magic shows. There will also be a seniors' tea.

Proceeds from the event will also support the Southampton Rangers Youth Programme. For more information call 333-7788 or 705-3754.