TODDLERS are known for being full of energy but a three-year-old girl with a rare, life-limiting condition is tired in minutes.

Three-year-old Olive-Grace Cox from Tolladine in Worcester was diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy, a rare form of mitochondrial disease, in February 2023.

Her mother, Hayley Cox, wants to raise awareness of the condition which means the cells in the body are not producing enough energy, resulting in reduced organ function, muscle growth, and general development.

She said: "She has been poorly since birth really and was in and out of Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

"It was emotional when Olive-Grace finally got a proper diagnosis - we wondered what her life would be like and it was hard to accept.

"Unfortunately, it's a life limiting form of the disease so we just try to get through it."

Mrs Cox added: "She just has no energy at all and feels worn out after around half an hour of being active.

"It means her muscles are weak too, including her upper and lower limbs, and the muscles around her mouth haven't developed enough so she can't swallow food."

Mother Hayley Cox has said her daughter Olive-Grace "keeps smiling" despite her condition (Pictured: Ivy-Rose Cox, 7 and Olive-Grace Cox, 3) (Image: Hayley Cox)

Olive-Grace is peg fed via the stomach, takes daily inhaler medication, and receives daily chest physio from her mum.

Mrs Cox said: "Olive-Grace is in a lot of pain and sometimes she can scream for hours in a day because of it.

"She can only walk for three to five minutes before her legs give out on her.

"Her sister Ivy-Rose is supportive, helping her with all of her medicines and helping her up the stairs too."

Ahead of World Mitochondrial Disease Week which begins on Monday (September 16), mitochondrial charity The Lily Foundation has appealed for buildings across the UK to be lit green to raise awareness.

Mrs Cox contacted Worcester City Council to get them involved and now the Guildhall is scheduled to be lit green on Saturday, September 21 in support.

Mrs Cox said: "I just wanted to help make people aware of the disease really - I hadn't heard of it myself before Olive-Grace was born.

"Despite what she's going through, Olive-Grace still smiles every day and has stayed so positive throughout."