Tring firm joins fight to cure rare neurological disease with huge £25,000 fundraising target

A Tring company has joined the fight to cure a cruel and life-limiting disease which strikes patients when they are toddlers.
By Harry Cheesewright
Published 27th Jan 2020, 11:41 BST
Updated 28th Jan 2020, 12:46 BST
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Akeman Street-based firm hr inspire have set an ambitious £25,000 fundraising target for its 2020 charity of the year Reverse Rett, which aims to cure Rett Syndrome.

The team nominated the charity after they met its trustee and co-founder Rita Ross, whose young daughter Frankie was diagnosed with the neurological disease in 2008.

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Frankie’s condition means that within a few years of her birth she started to lose her speech, her hand use, and ability to walk amongst countless other symptoms.

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Rita Ross, trustee and co-founder of Reverse Rett, centre, with the hr inspire team including Sandra McLellan, third on right, director of hr inspire.Rita Ross, trustee and co-founder of Reverse Rett, centre, with the hr inspire team including Sandra McLellan, third on right, director of hr inspire.
Rita Ross, trustee and co-founder of Reverse Rett, centre, with the hr inspire team including Sandra McLellan, third on right, director of hr inspire.

She now relies on toe walking and needs 24-hour care.

Rett Syndrome affects one in 10,000 births, most often previously healthy little girls between their first and second birthday, leaving them with multiple disabilities and medical complexities for life.

To achieve its ambitious £25,000 target, hr inspire has already planned activities throughout the year including Give It Up January, Walk a Mile in Frankie’s Shoes and a skydive.

Director of hr inspire Sandra McLellan said: “When I shared Frankie’s journey with the team and the charity’s dedication in helping change the lives of children and adults with Rett Syndrome, we knew our charity of the year had to be Reverse Rett.

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"Not only is the cause of the condition unknown, but a cure is almost within reach which could prevent other children getting this devastating lifelong condition.

“It’s fantastic to already see so much energy and determination to help achieve our £25,000 target together. Our team of HR specialists are already making sacrifices this month giving up their favourite things to put the money towards our fundraising goal.”

Rita Ross, of Reverse Rett: “We are so touched and delighted to be hr inspire’s charity of the year.

"Their £25,000 fundraising target will really make a difference in our fight to cure Rett Syndrome, while also helping us to support many children and adults living with the condition through the new Rett Clinic at Kings College Hospital that the charity has funded.”

You can follow hr inspire’s progress towards its £25k target to Reverse Rett at https://lnkd.in/gNYrrhF