Ruby is an incredibly important little girl to me, I have known the family for many years now, looking after both older sisters through their preschool years and now Ruby ❤️ When we found out about Ruby’s diagnosis it was so upsetting and the need to help was forefront in all of our minds.

All three girls are a testament to how Ruby’s parents have handled this news and I am in complete awe of the collective Marshall strength. This is why this charity is so important for all the families going through similar, their research is paramount to finding a cure.

Last year we managed to raise over £1500 as a preschool for The Lily Foundation by doing a ‘Run for Ruby’. It was incredible how the community came together and I will be forever grateful

This year it’s more personal, I’m going to be doing The Great North Run aside Bryan, Heidi and Ruby’s mum, Nikki. I’m really not a fan of exercise and have no running experience at all. We will be training for the event, starting now 🙌🏼

Below is some information written by Nikki & John, Ruby’s parents.

“Ruby Wren Marshall was born perfectly healthy on 24/02/21 and remained so until she was around 6 months old when she was found to be severely anaemic. Her bone marrow wasnt working well. It would be a further 5 months until she was diagnosed with Pearsons Syndrome; a mass deletion of her mtDNA.

This means some of her mitochondria in her cells (which provide the energy for the cells to work) do not work properly. As she grows the faulty mtDNA will start overpowering the healthy ones resulting in failure of her pancreas, followed by liver, kidneys, eyes, ears, heart, muscles and her brain.

Science can and will beat this, but it needs to be sooner and not later for Ruby, She just needs better batteries in her cells.

I have created this fundraiser to help - so please help me help Ruby, The Lily Foundation and all those with mito by donating today.

Everyday in the UK a child is born who will develop mitochondrial disease - we need to help them now.

Thank you for your support”