Wrexham AFC Fans to Clap for Baby Rupert in Poignant Tribute at Millwall Match
Wrexham football fans are being called upon to participate in a heartfelt tribute during the club's upcoming home match against Millwall. Supporters have been asked to applaud for 60 seconds in the seventh minute of the game in honour of seven-month-old Rupert Smith, who is currently fighting for his life at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.
A Rare and Devastating Diagnosis
Rupert has been diagnosed with one of the rarest diseases in the world, known as Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC). This genetic disorder affects only approximately one in a million children globally. The emotional tribute has been organised jointly by Wrexham AFC and Rupert's family to demonstrate to his parents that they are not facing this terrifying battle alone.
Rupert is the son of decorated North Wales Police officer Sergeant Dave Smith and his wife Siobhan. The family has launched an urgent £1.5 million fundraising appeal to support his care and potential treatment. The infant requires round-the-clock medical attention after suffering a life-threatening seizure while out shopping with his mother. The incident was so severe that he had to be airlifted by helicopter from the Tesco store at Broughton Shopping Park.
For a period, his devastated family feared they had lost him, but doctors managed to stabilise his condition. Currently, Rupert can only move his eyes, with just occasional movements of his arms and legs.
Community Rallying Behind the Family
As friends, neighbours, and the wider community rally around the Smith family, Wrexham AFC hopes to give the fundraising appeal a significant boost through this poignant tribute. The match against Millwall will take place at the SToK Cae Ras on Saturday, February 7. The choice of the seventh minute for the applause is symbolic, reflecting Rupert's age of seven months.
Beyond showing solidarity with the family, the aim is to raise public awareness of Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood and send a powerful message that Rupert is not fighting this battle in isolation. This is not the first major challenge the family has confronted. Dave Smith, aged just 40, is currently in remission after previously battling testicular cancer and undergoing intensive chemotherapy.
Despite their personal struggles, Dave and Siobhan have consistently prioritised their community. Over the years, they have supported numerous charitable causes and actively participated in community events in their home village of Broughton and across the wider region. Dave, who has served as a police officer for 17 years, was awarded a British Empire Medal in the King's 2025 New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to the North Wales community and to charity.
The Unpredictable Nature of AHC
However, since Rupert's birth, the challenge facing the family has surpassed anything they have previously experienced. Their lives have been utterly transformed. For Dave and Siobhan, who also have two other young sons, life now feels like sitting on a constantly ticking time bomb.
Rupert's condition is highly unpredictable; almost any slight change in his environment or daily routine can trigger convulsions, which could potentially stop his breathing. Fortunately, due to his young age, Rupert seems unaware of the anxiety that surrounds him. On his good days, he is described as lighting up the room with his bright and irresistible smile.
Both parents have had to take temporary leave from their jobs. When Rupert is at home, he requires constant monitoring, meaning they can scarcely take their eyes off him, day or night. Dave explained that a seizure can be provoked by numerous triggers, stating, "It could be as simple as hunger, stress, over-excitement, contact with water, or tiredness. We have to be constantly vigilant."
Balancing Family Life and Fundraising
Simultaneously, they must remain attentive to the needs of Rupert's brothers, four-year-old Henry and six-year-old George. George recently celebrated his sixth birthday with a party held by his baby sibling's side at Alder Hey Hospital. Dave recounted, "We had planned a little party at home for George, but after Rupert's seizure, we had no choice but to cancel our original plans. The staff at Alder Hey were so kind and let us celebrate his birthday at the hospital. We had a cake, and they even helped organise a mini treasure hunt for him. We cannot thank them enough, along with everyone else who has supported us during this difficult time."
While Siobhan remains at the hospital, Dave strives to maintain as normal a life as possible for Henry and George, continuing with school runs, meals, and bedtime routines. Once the boys are asleep, he dedicates time to organising fundraising efforts and updating Rupert's Rainbow JustGiving page.
The Search for a Cure
Currently, there is no cure or reliable treatment for AHC. The genetic disorder places its victims at a significantly increased risk of sudden death due to unpredictable seizures, breathing difficulties, developmental delays, and partial or total paralysis. Dave believes Rupert is one of only three children in Wales diagnosed with the condition, though he has not yet managed to trace the other affected families in the region.
Most patients are located in the United States, where families have been collaborating to fund research into more effective treatments and potential cures. Dave and Siobhan, who works as an NHS pharmacy technician, have been in online contact with American families to gather as much information as possible about AHC.
Dave aims to attend a conference in Boston in June, where he hopes to meet other affected families and clinicians working on developing treatment plans. He said, "Going to the USA is our only option, as there is no meaningful research being undertaken anywhere else. But in the States, some real progress has been made, albeit in the early stages. However, there is no NHS in the States, and when it becomes available, any treatment will be expensive, much more than we could ever afford without help."
The research is focused on gene therapy, which could potentially disarm the defective cells causing AHC. In essence, this involves removing a defective gene, correcting it, and then returning it to the body so it can instruct other faulty genes to adjust their behaviour. If trials prove successful, it could represent the only lifeline for Rupert, meaning the family must be prepared to act at any moment.
A Legacy of Community Support
"We are pinning our hopes on those medical advances which could save his life and the lives of other children in his position," Dave added. He and Siobhan are no strangers to fundraising. Over the past three years, with support from friends, colleagues, and the local community, they have helped raise more than £60,000 for various good causes.
Dave is a founder of Wrexham Police Football Club, a team of off-duty officers established to bring communities together and raise money for charity. The club has donated thousands of pounds to causes including hospices, homeless charities, mental health services, domestic abuse support groups, and the children's ward at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Dave never imagined his own family would one day require the support of that same ward.
He reflected, "We've always tried to help others whenever we can. Now we have no choice but to do everything possible for Rupert. It's exhausting, but every minute counts." The family has been overwhelmed by the response so far, with the appeal nearing £100,000 in just a few weeks, though much more is still needed.
An Appeal for Support
Dave expressed profound gratitude, stating, "We are incredibly grateful to the NHS and the outstanding medical teams who have cared for Rupert. They have done absolutely everything possible to investigate his condition, stabilise him, and provide ongoing specialist support. However, due to the rarity and complexity of AHC, care is limited to managing symptoms and responding to medical emergencies as they arise. The only potential for a cure lies in ongoing research and clinical developments in the United States, which require significant private funding."
He concluded with a heartfelt plea: "If you are able to donate, any amount, no matter how small, would mean the world to us. If you're unable to donate, please consider sharing Rupert's story, as that is just as important and may help us reach someone who can." The planned minute of applause at the Wrexham AFC match stands as a powerful symbol of community solidarity in the face of this profound challenge.
