HUNDREDS of East Lancashire workers and students are expected to wear their jeans next Friday and help raise money for research into genetic disorders.

The Jeans for Genes Day is an annual event when people abandon their usual dress code and pay £1 each for the privilege of turning up at their workplace or school in denim.

Parents with children who have genetic disorders are backing the campaign.

Lynne and Geoff Creamer, of Glenmore, Clayton-le-Woods, have two sons, Alex, 15, and Adam, 12, who have a rare genetic blood disorder.

Chronic granulomatous disorder prevents the boys from being able to fight certain bacterial and fungal infections naturally, meaning a trip to the playground or even a gardening session can leave them prone to severe infection.

Lynne said: "They will take medicines for the rest of their lives but even so they will become ill and spend time in hospital.

"As they get older, chronic complications can set in that will further reduce their quality of life. We yearn for a cure for the boys and Jeans for Genes is our great hope in this."

It is expected the event will raise more than £2.5 million nationwide, most of which will be spent on research into inherited disorders. Jeans for Genes helps to fund pioneering projects aimed at alleviating and even curing some of the 4,000 genetic disorders affecting children.

Anyone who would like to sign up for Jeans for Genes Day can telephone the freephone hotline on 0800 980 4800 or visit www.jeansforgenes.com for a free fund-raising pack.

The campaign has already made a huge difference to research in the UK, funding projects including a revolutionary gene therapy laboratory at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

This year toddler Rhys Evans, who has "baby in the bubble" syndrome, received successful gene therapy treatment there and is starting to develop his own immune system.