In October I'll be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon  as part of 'Team Anna 100' (see background below) for Great Ormond Street to support the great work they do, and continue to do, in the most difficult of circumstances.

By donating, you'll help the Mitochondrial Research Group at GOSH which is leading work to find the genetic cause of the Alpers' Disease and to identify possible treatments.

Through continuing to invest in this valuable cause it is hoped that one day in the future there may be treatments or even a cure available for this most cruel of diseases.

Many thanks in advance for any donations you are able to make.


Anna's Story:

Anna was a healthy, happy baby before she became ill on 19 January 2012. She had a seizure out of the blue which didn't stop, and she was taken into intensive care. No one knew what the matter was and she underwent so many tests. She was so brave - always smiling at the Doctors and Nurses and charming everyone who met her with her beautiful smile and spikey hair! On 16 March, 8 weeks after that first seizure, Anna was diagnosed at GOSH with Alpers' Disease, a rare Mitochondrial Disease. It was such a relief to have a diagnosis but the worst news was still to come. There is currently no treatment, or cure, for Mitochondrial Disease. All that could be done was to keep her pain-free, comfortable, happy and safe. We spent every minute by her side and she knew how much she was loved. Anna died on 1 April 2012, just 2 weeks after her diagnosis and only 10.5 weeks since the whole nightmare had begun.

Anna received wonderful, loving care in her last few weeks of life at Great Ormond Street Hospital, for which we will always be so grateful. The entire team at GOSH made what was such a difficult time for Anna, and us, much easier to bear, and we owe them so much. The medical care she received was second to none but it was the love that we all received that made the hospital stand out so much for us. We will never forget that kindness.

The Mitochondrial Research Group at GOSH is working to identify the genetic causes for Mitochondrial Disease and to identify possible treatments. Without its expertise, Anna's diagnosis would never have been possible. We have asked for all donations to Anna's Brighter Future Fund to go to the Mitochondrial Research Group so that in the future there may be treatments or even a cure available for this most cruel of diseases. So that other families will have a brighter future.

Written By Jess Lewis (Anna's Mum)