Hello,

On 10th September 2017, I will be running 13.1 miles in the UK's biggest half marathon, for a special little girl called Della-Rowe and her charity 'Galactosaemia Support Group'.


Della, soon to be 3 years old, has a metabolic disorder called 'Galactosaemia'. Galactosaemia is RARE. In the UK, only 1 child in 45,000 is born with this condition (so between 12 and 18 children are born each year with it).

A few days after Della was born a healthy baby, she was admitted into the RVI Newcastle Hospital - Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) with life-threatening complications. Namely; lack of energy, a failure to gain weight and grow, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), liver damage, and abnormal bleeding. Other complications included overwhelming bacterial infections (sepsis) and shock. Della also had a full blood transfusion within her time in the Special Care Baby Unit.


Whilst Della was living in her incubator, she was diagnosed with Galactoasemia. Luckily, Della's diagnosis was made just in time by Doctors, and it was expected that Della would recover from her life threating complications. However, many children with the disorder are not so lucky and do not survive.

In addition, Della's parents were made aware of her possible 'life-long' conditions as a result of Galactoasemia. These include: delayed development, clouding of the lens of the eye (cataracts), speech difficulties, and intellectual disability. Females may also develop productive problems caused by an early loss of function of the ovaries (premature ovarian insufficiency).

The Galactosaemia Support Group provides ongoing support to families with Galactosaemic children and also adult 'Galactosaemics'. A key part of the charity's support is to promote awareness of Galactosaemia, within the medical and teaching professions, and pharmaceutical industries.


The Group organises events, away days and weekend breaks together with bi-annual medical conferences and seminars.


They also produce a wide range of literature and support material for members, in association with qualified dietitians, including newsletters and product updates.


Galactosaemia is a lifelong condition, and this support really does make a huge difference to my good friends, Karly and Kevin, and their special little girl Della-Rowe.

Please help me with my fundraising (however little) and supporting Della and her charity 'Galactosaemia Support Group'.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for any donation, no matter how small :)

Alexandra