“OUR doctors say Ben should enter the Guinness Book of Records because he’s got the lowest body temperature of anyone they’ve ever come across.”

Sharon and Peter Brown have been battling to keep their son, Ben, warm for almost eight years.

His body temperature is usually so cold that most people would go into hypothermic comas. Even on a good day he only reaches around 33C.

Normal body temperature is 36C and anything below 35C is classed as hypothermic.

Ben, aged 14, has Hypothalamic Syndrome, an extremely rare disorder of the hypothalamus gland – the section of the brain that regulates temperature, sweating, hunger and thirst among others.

It affects every part of his life and he is often being rushed into hospital for emergency care.

His family, of Ringwood Close, Gorse Covert, are trying to raise money to buy a Bair Hugger blanket, a specialist blanket often used in operations that sees hot air forced around the body to heat it.

The blanket will help Ben remain at home while his temperature is raised in the hope of making his life that bit easier while doctors search for a cure.

His sister Hayley’s schoolmates at Gorse Covert Primary School have already raised £1,200 for the Bair Hugger and Ben’s schoolfriends are also fundraising.

Ben’s case is thought to be the most severe in the country.

It developed suddenly when he was seven and since then his family have had to keep a close eye on his temperature, putting him in hot baths whenever it drops too low.

Last May Ben was also diagnosed with Blood Cell Lymphoproliferative Disease, which has caused growths in his lungs.

The consultants are not sure why these growths have started but they think it may be due to the extremely low temperatures his body has to work at, said Sharon.

They are unable to remove them surgically so at the moment Ben is undergoing different chemical treatments to control them.

“A lot of his treatment is guesswork as his condition is so rare,” said Peter.

Earlier this year Ben came close to death after being treated with a new antibiotic that sent his potassium levels too high.

His heart came under immense pressure and he was kept in a high dependency unit for weeks as doctors tried to treat him with insulin.

His rare condition has forced him to leave Birchwood High School to be tutored at home, but his friends from school keep a smile on his face.

“My friends and family have just been stars, I can’t tell you how much,” said Ben. “My friends are always asking how I am – it makes me feel a bit like I’m a celebrity!”

Ben’s emotions are also affected by his condition. When he is happy, his brain releases unusually high levels of serotonin, a ‘happy’ chemical.

It is a process the family has termed ‘Benification’.

“When you laugh you feel happy but in me it’s like little shivers of happiness,” said Ben.

“It’d be great if I could put it into tablets and if you’re feeling down you could take one!”

If you want to help the Browns e-mail them on benbrownfundraising@gmail.com.