Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I'm doing the 5K Big Fun Run on Saturday 3 October to support Unique (Rare Chromosome Disorder Support Group). 

We found Unique when Ellie (see cute picture - posing with her face painted), our daughter,  was diagnosed with a rare chromosome disorder which goes by the name of Trisomy 18 (Mosaic).

Medical labels aside, it means she is mentally and physically delayed.  Ellie was first diagnosed in 2004 and we were given absolutely no supportive literature, helplines, support groups, etc.  Thankfully, we found Unique (also known as Rare Chromsome Disorder Support Group).  They have been a fantastic source of support to us particularly around the early days of learning of our daughter's condition. 

While a label doesn’t define our girl or any other person, we feel it is essential that, upon diagnosis  and going forward, parents/carers have the right to easily accessible information and support.

Just some of the work Unique does includes supporting and linking families, producing family-friendly information including a regular magazine, holding a regular conference for families and professionals, making sure professionals tell families about Unique, facilitating research into rare chromosome disorders.  Whew!  But.... they need money to keep all this going on.

I want to support Unique’s important work and I am getting my ass back on the road (beware inhabitants of West Calder !!) in training for the 5K Big Fun Run (fun & run, hmmm…) on Saturday 3 October at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.  Come along and laugh at, er I mean support, me on the day if you’re free but, most of all, please donate what you can to this wonderful charity… Robin and I never knew it existed, until we needed to.

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now - thank you!