When Rosie was first diagnosed with a neuromuscular condition we felt
isolated, alone and scared. We were desperate to connect with other families going through a similar thing to build a support network.

The fantastic charity Lifetime connected us with a family nearby. We soon met up in person, shared our heartbreaking stories, felt the same pain, discussed our hopes and dreams for our baby girls, watched them play together that day and a friendship was born.

Rosie’s friend is called Issy. She is a funny, bright and playful three year old girl, but at 17 months of age she was diagnosed with a serious life-limiting condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

SMA is a genetic neuromuscular disease affecting nerves responsible for muscle function. Although classified as rare, SMA is the leading genetic cause of death of infants and toddlers, with approximately 95% of the most severely diagnosed cases resulting in death by the age of 18 months. Children with a less severe form of SMA face the prospect of progressive muscle wasting, loss of mobility and motor function.

Unlike Rosie who had weak muscles from birth, Issy faces the cruel prospect of losing all the physical abilities she has worked so hard to gain such as moving, eating, lifting her arms, even breathing. 

The SMA Trust is dedicated to funding medical research into SMA and I hope you will join me in helping to raise money for this fantastic charity.

On March 12, 2017 I will be joining Issy’s brave and inspiring mum, Karen, along with ten of her family members and friends in ‘Team
Isabel’ to run the Bath Half Marathon.

I really hope that you will donate whatever you can, however big or small, to help find a cure for SMA and help Rosie’s beautiful friend Issy.

THANK YOU!