THE mum of a boy at the centre of a life-support treatment dispute says the support from the community has helped her stay strong as a charity football match is organised to raise cash for him.

Archie Battersbee, 12, is in the Royal London Hospital hospital in a coma after an incident at his Southend home on April 7.

A hearing is scheduled to take place across today and tomorrow at the Family Division of the High Court in London, where judge Mrs Justice Arbuthnot will decide if doctors should continue treating Archie.

Alongside an online fundraiser which has raised almost £20,000, a charity football match is now set to take place on June 17 at the Welstead Sports and Social Club in Westcliff.

Organisers say all proceeds will go to the family.

Archie’s mum Hollie Dance said: “We are so grateful for all the support and everyone has been amazing. The support means so much to all of us and I don’t know what I would have done with out everyone’s help.

“It’s also the fact that people are putting to much work and organising into the fundraising like with this football match. So much thought is going into it all, it really is a massive help and helps to keep us strong.

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“It’s very possible some of the family will attend the football match as they have done before for these events for Archie, and it’s of course very emotional for us.

“It’s all very touching for us all.”

Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, who is considering the case at private hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London, has previously been told that the youngster had not regained consciousness.

Doctors treating Archie at the Royal London Hospital think it “highly likely” he is dead and say life-support treatment should end.

Archie’s parents, Hollie and Paul Battersbee from Southend, disagree.

Hollie added: “He’s squeezed my thumb a few times now and has started to open his eyes a bit which is all progression in the right way.

“He’s still stable day by day which is good too. The whole thing it taking a toll on me and I am by his side the whole time, living and sleeping in the room with him. I haven’t left his side in months.”