The photo on this page is of our friends Sarah and Mark’s kids Amber who is 3 and Harvey who is 4.  Amber was recently diagnosed with Rett Syndrome.

This causes a very serious neurological disorder which means Amber will not develop normally and she will be severely disabled as she grows up.

There is reason for optimism.  Scientists working on this problem have demonstrated in the laboratory that mice with Rett Syndrome can have their symptoms reversed.  With the right treatment mice can revert to normal behaviour and lifespan. This gives hope that they may also be able to help Rett girls and women to enjoy more normal lives. The charity mounting the research to develop treatments is the ‘Rett Syndrome Research Trust UK’. (www.reverserett.org.uk.)

This very small charity is close to achieving a breakthrough, which would make Rett the world’s first curable brain disorderand could lead to treatments for many other brain disorders such as Autism and Cerebral Palsy. Clinical trials of possible treatments are likely to start this year.

The charity needs money now, and in the next 2 -3 years, to push through the necessary research and to pay for the clinical trials.

This is where you come in.

It would be great if you could make a donation to this page or one of the many people and teams taking part. 

It would also be fantastic if you could join us for the walk and bring along some friends.

Go to [Facebook link] for more information.

The idea of the walk is to bring together friends of new and old for a challenging days walking and catching up for a great cause.

With our busy lives we all know that we don’t see the people who have been important to us over the years anywhere near enough.  Here’s the chance.

What’s the challenge?

The Dark Peak Challenge walk is one of John Merrill's (famous walking bloke) favourite tough day walks in the Peak District. The 24 mile route involves 3,300 feet of ascent and takes in some of the grandest summits in the area, providing extensive and stunning views all the way. The walk starts and ends in beautiful Hathersage (near Hope!) and the walk should take 8-10 hours. 

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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.