SMILING and surrounded by love and the best possible care, baby Reece Price died peacefully on Friday while being cuddled by his parents.

Merely six weeks after being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the illness claimed the life of the four-month-old Cliftonville infant.

In his last days, Reece had experienced severe breathing problems typical of the condition and spent the last week of his life with his family in hospital.

He had been admitted to Margate’s Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital and then transferred to Guy’s Hospital.

His breathing had stopped several times and he had been revived and sustained on a ventilator. After consultation with doctors, parents Damian Price and Michelle Henderson felt it no longer appropriate to artificially postpone what was inevitable.

The tubes and equipment enabling him to breathe were removed on Wednesday. He died at 4am on Friday.

Dad Damian, 21, said: "Reece was smiling and not in any pain at the end, myself and his mum were cuddling him and he was peaceful."

Reece had Type 1 SMA, the most aggressive form that claims the lives of 80 per cent of babies affected before they are one. It is extremely rare for children with this strain to live beyond two.

Reece’s death has underlined the crucial need to raise money to prevent and treat the incurable condition, an effort spearheaded by The Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (JTSMA).

An auction for the cause has been organised by Reece’s family to take place on October 16 at Margate Football Club and a sponsored cycle is planned from Margate to Brighton on October 18. There are collection boxes around Thanet.

Reece's family are now more determined than ever to do what they can to combat SMA and prevent others enduring what they have experienced.

A trio of beautiful wedding dresses, valued at more than £2,000 have been donated by Jean and Robin Hare of The Bridal Gallery in Broadstairs.

The dresses are in sizes 12, 14 and 16. One is in ivory silk taffeta adorned with exquisite French gold lace, a second is a simple style in pale ivory, duchess satin with a diamante bow and the third is in ivory duchess satin.

Mrs Hare, whose brother David has muscular dystrophy, said: "I met Reece’s grandmother who is just in bits about his illness and we felt we would really like to do something to make his life and his family’s life better."

Other lots to be auctioned, raffled and won include a Margate Football Club shirt, two signed club footballs, a tub of shrimp sweets from Sweet Talk in Birchington. Liverpool and Manchester United football clubs have promised items.

The loan of a minibus is needed to ferry cyclists back from Brighton after the ride. Anyone interested in contributing to the ride or the auction can contact Reece’s aunts Julie Willis and Claire Fitness on 07758 715337.

* The Baby Reece Appeal has been launched by the Isle of Thanet Extra with a Kent Walking Bus-organised sponsored abseil due to take place at Ramsgate in December.

JTSMA has been nominated by Extra editor Carol Davies to receive 70 per cent of the proceeds, the rest will go to KWB.

Invicta Motors at Westwood are major sponsors and other businesses are invited to provide backing.

Download Abseil sponsor form.