Six Bromley-born sisters who are now scattered across the country have come together to run in support of their baby niece who was born with cystic fibrosis.
Mary Taylor, 35, and her husband Simon, 37, were thrilled when their daughter Charlotte seemed healthy and happy despite being born six weeks premature on December 22 last year.
But on Christmas morning she was transferred to St George’s in Tooting to have emergency surgery.
Afterwards, the doctors diagnosed little Charlotte with cystic fibrosis, a condition that causes mucus to gather in the lungs and digestive system, meaning that struggle with health issues daily.
Mary told News Shopper: “She was in hospital for three weeks and afterwards on top of standard check-ups she has been in for scares and overnight stays – she’s keeping the NHS on their toes.
“At one point she was taking medication 28 times a day.”
Although she’s now out of the woods, Charlotte's daily care routine includes juggling her twice-daily physio, antibiotics, multivitamins, digestive enzymes and other medicines.
As news of Charlotte’s diagnosis spread, Mrs Taylor’s five sisters rallied around the family and their newly born baby niece.
The six sisters and Simon decided to take action the only way they could – raising money for the cause.
All of the sisters grew up in Bromley and attended Holy Trinity College, and their parents and three of the sisters still live in the area, but the others are in other parts of the country.
So Liz, Helen, Mary, Valerie, Rachel and Rosie reunited for the Vitality British 10k London Run in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust - with Charlotte's dad Simon in tow.
MORE TOP STORIES
Mary said: “This is not what I expected to be doing six months after giving birth.
“It was a mammoth task for everyone.”
More than 2.5 million people in the UK carry the faulty gene, around one in 25 – most without knowing.
“As a progressive disease, there’s no knowing from one person to the next how it will develop and affect their lives.
“For some gene types there is therapy available but not for Charlotte’s.
“We are hopeful that within her lifetime research will develop a cure for her – and others.”
So far the sisters have raised more than £17k of their £20k goal – but time is ticking to reach the target.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here