Lexi-Mae gets to become Latics' youngest mascot

Lexi-Mae Brown, who has Edwards’ Syndrome, has been invited to represent the club for its match on May 8 against Barnsley.

The Spring View 16-month-old will be carried onto the pitch by her favourite player Max Power, with her four-year-old sister Maisie walking out with the captain, Craig Morgan.

Mum Lyndsey said: “My husband Paul has been a fan of Latics all his life and I became a fan when I met him. Max Power has been great with Lexi and does all kinds for her.

“I am thrilled that Latics are letting her be a mascot, as normally you have to be aged five or over. When the weather is good we take Lexi to the matches and she enjoys it. She went to her first game when she was 16 weeks old.

“We have already been to Christopher Park training ground to talk with the players and they signed a shirt for her. It is fabulous the team are supporting Lexi. We are honoured to get their backing and it helps raise awareness of her condition.”

Latics manager Gary Caldwell said: “I think it’s incredible the club continues to do stuff like this. We all saw her yesterday with her family, all the players got pictures with her. Anything we can do to help in the community is a good thing.”

Edwards’ Syndrome is a serious genetic condition caused by an additional copy of chromosome 18 in some or all of the cells in the body which disrupts a baby’s development.

Around one in every 12 babies born with it survives beyond one year but they will live with severe physical and mental disabilities.

Some children do survive to early adulthood, but this is very rare.

Lyndsey added: “Lexi is not too good at the moment as she has had a few spells of being in hospital with bad chest infections where she needed oxygen. She is better than she was, but still not 100 per cent. Hopefully the better weather will help her.”