Friends fighting to find cure for rare disease raise £14k in ball (From Enfield Independent)

Friends fighting to find cure for rare disease Rett Syndrome raise £14k in ball

11:38am Monday 1st October 2012 in News By Hermione Wright

A ball organised by friends of a little girl with a rare degenerative disease raised more than £14,500 for charity.

The masked ball, in The Cheshunt Country Club in Theobalds Park on Saturday, was to raise cash for charity the Rett Syndrome Research Trust.

Friends Emma Wells, Emma Beacham and Jason Croucher organised the event after their friend’s daughter, three-year-old Ava Carter of Fir Tree Walk in Enfield Town, was diagnosed with the condition.

The illness targets previously healthy young girls after they have learnt to walk and utter their first words, and drags their development backwards – meaning Ava can no longer communicate.

Ms Wells said: “It was really good, it went well. We had a good result and the auction was a success.

“Everyone had a good time and arrived early which was good. A really good time was had by all, everyone had fun.

“Everyone remembered why we were there – it is about trying to make a difference and raising the profile so everyone knows about it.”

Ava, who attends Waverley Special School in The Ride, was diagnosed with the condition last January – a day before her mother Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The friends are desperate to raise as much cash as possible to help find a cure for the disease.

Monica Coenraads, executive director of Rett Syndrome Research Trust, said: "Congratulations to the Carter family and their dedicated friends for the wonderful event.

"The science behind Rett Syndrome is extremely promising and with appropriate funding we are optimistic that treatments will be forthcoming. 

"We are indebted to the families who do their part to support the important mission of RSRT and RSRT UK."

To visit Ava's fundraising page, click here.