Sponsored Riverside Walk, Cwmbran – Sunday 16th March 2008
Brownies and girl guides from Fairwater District are taking part in a sponsored walk this weekend to raise funds for DebRA and Sports Relief. The girls, with ages ranging from five to fourteen years, hope to raise as much money as possible for the two nominated charities. The Rotary Club of Cwmbran Vale has kindly provided support in the organisation of the walk.
Pretiksha Davies, Guide Leader, said: “As members of girl guiding we work to help others. While we support national events as much as we can, it is also important to us to help local people and charities, which is why we are sharing the money raised between the two charities.
“This sponsored walk is an ideal opportunity for us as a District to bring all sections together to work as one. It gives the girls a chance to see and interact with each other and realise that they are part of something special!”
DebRA supports families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) - a rare genetic condition which causes the skin to blister and shear at the slightest friction, or even spontaneously. There are at least 5,000 people living with this devastating condition in the UK and 500,000 worldwide.
EB has a number of distinct forms: at its mildest, blistering is confined to the hands and feet. In more severe cases, the whole body is affected and wounds heal very slowly, giving rise to scarring, physical deformity and significant disability. Blistering can also affect inner body linings, such as the mouth and oesophagus and, in its most advanced form, EB can be fatal in infancy.
Laura Pratt, Regional Fundraising Manager for DebRA – South, South West and South Wales, said: “The charity relies on fundraising events like this to carry out its vital work, improving lives and giving hope to families affected by this devastating skin condition. We wish the girls the very best of luck – their efforts will help make a difference to the individuals and families affected by EB.”
