Being a kid is tough enough, but when you're born with a condition that makes you look different from everyone else it can be a real nightmare.

Children don't know any better, but they can be pretty mean to anyone "different." Koren Jeffcoate has learned that the hard way.

The 8-year-old from Anglesey, Wales was born with neurofibromatosis, which causes benign tumors to grow under his skin. But as Koren's mother Rhian reveals, the worst part of his condition is the way people treat him.

Koren has the same condition as Joseph Merrick, the famous "Elephant Man" who inspired the classic film.

His tumors - including one in his stomach and another over his eye - will continue to grow throughout his life, but apart from a few minor symptoms he's totally fine.

But that hasn't stopped other children and even strangers on the street from staring at him, insulting him or ignoring him.

Now, Koren's mother is trying to raise awareness about his disease (which is actually more common than Cystic Fibrosis) and sharing an important message about how Koren is treated.

Click the next page to hear what she has to say!

Rhian says that the one thing she wants people to do when they see Koran is to "just come up and say hi."

He feels lonely and isolated by his condition, even though it's only skin-deep.

"A lot of children look and stare at Koren because they don't understand what he's got," she told the Daily Post.

She tells the newspaper that even some medical professionals aren't familiar with the disease, and she's trying raise awareness so parents of children like Koren know what they're in for.

When Koren was born, Rhian's nurse thought the brown stains on his skin - the first symptom of neurofibromatosis - were just birth marks.

It took 6 years until a doctor correctly diagnosed her son, and she wants to make sure that doesn't happen again.

"We want to raise awareness so other people are aware of the symptoms and so no other parent has to go through what we have been through with Koren," she said.

If you want to support Koren's family, you can donate to his brother Aled, who is running a half marathon to raise awareness about his condition.

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