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Run raises cash for rare condition
A MOTIVATED runner took to the streets to raise money for a brave youngster suffering from a rare condition.
Little Jasmine Sanderson is one of just 45 people in the UK who are known to suffer from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), which is a condition that causes bones to grow where they should not, creating bridges over joints.
The FOP gene was only discovered in 2006 and support to help find cure and treatments for the rare condition is vital.
Kind-hearted Joyce Mayes laced up her running shoes as she pushed herself to the limit around the streets of Tyneside in the Great North Run to raise money for the cause with the brave youngster in mind.
Joyce used to live near to Jasmine's dad, Ian, and has been to a number of fundraising events which have took place to raise money and awareness of the condition over the last couple of years.
Joyce, who lives in Whitrout Road, in Hartlepool, with her husband, Ken, 67, said: "I did the run last year for cancer research which is another cause which is close to my heart, but I have been to a lot of the fundraisers for Jasmine and it was very personal to do the run for that cause.
"I just wanted to try to raise publicity of the condition in any way I could and it was nice to know I had helped in a small way.
"When I was stood on the start line I was wondering whether anyone else was doing the run for FOP research."
Joyce raised a fantastic 470 for the cause and with her finishing time of two hours and 35 minutes, she took five minutes off her personal best time from last year's event.
Only 40,000 was raised for FOP research in the UK last year, but a 300,000 donation from businessman Richard Simcox has now trebled the amount of researchers in the UK from one to three.
Jasmine's mum Kelly Sanderson, 32, who lives in Swanage Grove, in Hart Station, with husband, Ian, 36, said: "We were absolutely over the moon when Joyce said she was going to run the race and raise money for the charity.
"It is such a rare condition and every bit of help can make such a difference."
Kelly, who is also mum to five year-old Sienna, added: "It is brilliant to hear of the huge donations to help researching treatment and we will carry on doing as much as we can to raise all of the funds we can for the research."
For more information about FOP or to donate to the cause, visit Kelly's website by logging onto www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk and selecting the link at the bottom of this story.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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