Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity. 

In addition to the money we raise I am very hopeful that I will be able to obtain matched funding from my employer up to £500.00 meaning that we can double our sponsorship!!!

On the 7^th September 2014 both my dad and I will be taking part in the Great North Run in Newcastle.  For those who don’t know this is a half marathon, which is a huge 13.1 miles and seems very scary to me personally!  I unfortunately am not a runner and can categorically say that I definitely do not take after my dad in this particular area! I actually felt a little bit ill when I had the email saying that I had secured a place in the ‘world’s greatest half marathon’!

So why are you doing it I hear you ask?  There are 2 reasons for me personally:

• My super fantastic dad asked me to and as we don't see each other as often as I'd like I thought it'd be great to be able to complete this challenge together AND

• I thought it would be a great opportunity to raise some money that can make a real difference to other people’s lives

So a little bit about my dad!  For those of you that know him you will know that he has competed in both half marathons and marathons before and is actually also taking part in the Edinburgh marathon on the 25^th May 2014.  I love him lots and am so very proud of him and although he is 22 years older than me he is far fitter!!!

Since my dad and I registered for the Great North Run my boyfriend Craig has shown his support by also registering to complete a half marathon.  This is the Lake Vyrnwy half marathon taking place a week later on the 14th September 2014.  This is to help us to raise further funds for charity and also so he can help push me along with my own training!!!

My dad, Craig and I thought we would like to take this opportunity to try and raise some much needed funds for charity and the choice of charity was very easy for me.  A fellow karate student, Neil Fowler has a young daughter named Ciara who is suffering from a condition called Rett Syndrome.  Some of the following information has been taken from Neil's own JustGiving page.

Ciara who is now aged 4 was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at the age of 2.  She is unable to sit unaided, cannot talk, cannot feed herself, cannot purposefully use her hands and cannot communicate her thoughts and feelings as she would like.  Ciara and other girls with Rett do not have brain damage and they know and understand much more than their bodies allow them to show - but they are locked in, trapped by a body that cannot obey signals from their brain.  It is often described as having the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s and anxiety disorders all in one little girl.

The charity that we would like to be able to raise lots of money for is Reverse Rett, which is a parent-driven charity working to accelerate treatments and cures for Rett Syndrome. 

Rett Syndrome is a neurological disorder that strikes little girls around the time of their first birthday and ends their parents' hopes and dreams for their future.  Rett Syndrome affects nearly every aspect of these girls' lives; taking away their ability to walk, talk and use their hands. Many girls have problems with breathing and eating. Many have seizures.

As things stand there is no treatment or cure for Rett Syndrome. Life expectancy is significantly reduced and Ciara, along with all the other girls, face the prospect of a life in a wheelchair and 24 hour 1:1 care. There is the likelihood that she will require tube feeding in the future and due to having low muscle tone will develop a spinal curvature (Scoliosis) which would have a detrimental effect on her ability to breath. Ciara already has a partially collapsed lung. What Ciara and the other girls with Rett Syndrome go through on a daily basis takes courage and bravery to another level.

Rett Syndrome is caused by a totally random genetic mutation at the point of conception.  It is not hereditary and therefore can potentially affect any girl. There is hope however, as in 2007 scientists (Professor Adrian Bird and his team at Edinburgh University) carried out an experiment using a mouse model and discovered that by replacing the missing proteins on the faulty gene, all symptoms were reversed and Rett Syndrome appeared cured, albeit in a mouse. From this point, the potential for a cure for girls with Rett Syndrome became a very real prospect.  Clinical trials in humans were on the horizon and these have now started! Professor Adrian Bird (as mentioned above) was this year nominated for the Nobel Prize for Science and he has just received a Knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List, both in recognition of his achievements and the subsequent potential for curing Rett Syndrome. The prospect of a cure is very tangible.........but for Ciara and all other girls suffering with Rett Syndrome, it is literally a race against time!

As promising as the research is, everything as usual comes down to money.  Reverse Rett donates all money raised to fund this vital research, so that a cure can be found.

I too have a young daughter and it is heart breaking to think of these girls suffering.  Please sponsor me and my dad and help to find a cure for Ciara and all the other girls suffering with Rett Syndrome.    

A heart felt thank you in advance!

Danielle, Derek and Craig x