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<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Cheryl Hewitt, Simon Hewitt, Laura Robertson</strong> and <strong>Ryan Russell </strong>are the relay team members :</span></p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Leg 1 (Simon): The Royal Leg - 8.6 miles</span><br><br><span style="color: #ff6600;">Leg 2 (Cheryl): The Cock & Pan Leg - 5.5 miles</span><br><br><span style="color: #0000ff;">Leg 3 (Ryan): The Gosford Leg - 7.6 miles</span><br><br><span style="color: #ff6600;">Leg 4 (Laura): The Glory Leg - 4.5 miles</span></span></span></p>
<p>We are all running in the Edinburgh Marathon Relay to raise funds for medical research into HSP. For those of you who don't know and let's face it why would you? HSP stands for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia which is a neurological genetic disorder. Now for the scientific part...HSP is characterised by a progressive muscle stiffness (spasticity) and the development of paralysis of the lower limbs (paraplegia). The signs and symptoms of HSP usually appear in early to mid adulthood, as the muscle weakness and spasticity get worse some people may need the aid of a cane, walker or wheelchair. </p>
<p>This condition runs in a large Dundee family and has affected a number of generations. As the genetic condition is so rare, there has been little knowledge available to sufferers. There was no test to diagnose and no treatment or cure.</p>
<p>This however suddenly changed around 2 years ago when the following 2 doctors;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Prof. A. Crosby</strong>, </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">BDF Newlife Professor of Medical Genetics </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and <strong>Dr. Ajith S. Nair</strong>, </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Centre for Human Genetics, </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">St. George’s University of London</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p>approached the family in Dundee to help assist their medical research into HSP. In only one year they managed to identify the defective gene that causes the condition.</p>
<p>They now plan to investigate the gene path with the hope of finding treatments to slow down the symptoms and even prevent them advancing.</p>
<p>The more medical research that is done, the more likelihood of changing the futures of the next generation.</p>
<p>You are invited to raise as much funds as possible to achieve a successful outcome.</p>
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<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>So please dig deep and donate now. Thanks in advance x x x x</strong></span></p>