On Friday 21st September, Residential Land staff will be wearing jeans to help make a difference to the lives of children suffering from genetic disorders. Born in 1992, Jeans for Genes is a national children’s fundraiser run by the UK charity Genetic Disorders UK which raises money for the care of children and families who are affected by genetic disorders.
Genetic disorders affect 1 in 25 people born in the UK and include conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sick cell anaemia and muscular dystrophy as well as around 6,000 others. 30,000 babies and young children are newly diagnosed in the UK each year. The associated health problems of genetic disorders are the biggest cause of the death of children agreed 14 years and under in the UK.
By taking part in this initiative, children’s lives can change, such as Faith. Eleven-year-old Faith suffers from a rare genetic disorder known as Kleefstra syndrome, meaning she suffers from epilepsy and delayed physical and intellectual development. Faith is also unable to walk or talk and is susceptible to lung infections. There are thought to be only 200 children in the world with this genetic disorder and Faith will need lifelong support. Read Faith’s story.
Or little Freddie, a 15-month-old baby who was born prematurely at 28 weeks and developed Trichothiodystrophy (TTD), so rare it affects just one child in a million. This rare disorder affects so many parts of Freddie’s body, from his heart and lungs, to his brain, skill, skin, eyes, stomach and ability to eat. Read little Freddie’s story.
Residential Land is passionate about supporting charities, and the Jeans for Genes initiative is one we feel strongly about. We will be raising funds through various activities, staff will be donating £2 each by donning their best denim, cakes and other treats will be sold throughout the day, and we will be holding a company-wide raffle with extremely generous donations from some well-known friends of the company.
We would like to pass our appreciation and thanks onto the following businesses and individuals who have donated gifts for our raffle:
- Vitesse
- Wild Things Florist
- Benefit Cosmetics
- Mayfair Mews Pizza Co
- Margaret Dabbs
- Sweaty Betty
- Fifty9 Bar
- Yo!Sushi
- Dishoom
- Mac Cosmetics
- Benefit Cosmetics
- Indigo Interiors
- The White Company
- Lelievre
- Burger and Lobster
- Residential Land CEO Bruce Richie
- Residential Land Executive Assistant Helen Greville
The generosity of these businesses and individuals will help children and families suffering from genetic disorders all over the UK, as well as making our staff very excited about their potential prizes.
It’s not too late to make a support the initiative and make a difference to children’s lives. Visit the Jeans for Genes site here for more information and find out how you can help. Your donations will raise money to help some of the most vulnerable children in the UK; together we hope to help fund projects that provide nursing care, equipment, activity weekends, online support and counselling.