Two years ago, Emily was diagnosed with a rare mitochondrial disorder.  After a long period of ongoing tests at Great Ormond Street Hospital, a diagnosis of Mitochondrial Disease was finally made.  There is currently no treatment or cure for Mitochondrial Disease.

What is Mitochondrial Disease?

Mitochondria are the "powerhouse" within each human cell.  They are responsible for converting the energy in food into energy that can be used by the body.  Without mitochondria, cells are unable to generate enough energy to sustain normal organ function, and sometimes even life.

With me, my amazing friends, Lisa, Mel, Karen and Paula (Emily's Angels) are running the Royal Parks Half Marathon for a fantastic charity called  The Lily Foundation, which raises money specifically for research into Mitochondrial Disease and other metabolic disorders.

The Lily Foundation was set up in 2007 and the charity is committed to raising money to finding a cure through funding research and providing support to those involved and affected by metabolic disorders.  Currently the charity is funding the development of a new gene testing programme, which will establish the causes of the disease, to speed diagnosis for families in the UK and to progress vital research to find a cure for Mitochondrial Disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction can also be a factor in diseases as diverse as cancer, diabetes, heart, liver and kidney disease and strokes, as well as age-related diseases.  The research potential is huge and eventually may not only help to find a cure for Mitochondrial Disease, but also for other life threatening illnesses.

Emily's Angels are raising money to help fund research and support those children and their families who are affected by Mitochondrial Disease.

Please help by supporting us and donating as much as you can.

Thank you.

xxxxx

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So please dig deep and donate now.