Cash boost for Amy's fund (From Wirral Globe)

Cash boost for Amy's fund

8:00am Sunday 7th October 2012 in News By Geoff Barnes

A CHARITY supporting a Wirral woman suffering from a condition that causes her body to age prematurely, could be in line for a £10,000 cash bonanza.

Amy and Friends – set up to provide solace for Cockayne Syndrome victims across the world - was named after Wallasey-born Amy Garton-Hughes.

It has been shortlisted for an award from the Morgan Foundation, one of the region’s biggest providers of funding for children’s and family charities. A prize of £10,000 awaits the winner of the “Against All Odds” category in which Amy and Friends has been listed.

Amy’s mum Jayne Hughes said : “I am absolutely thrilled that we have reached the final. To win £10,000 would take huge pressure off us.

“We have to raise money for research and equipment; holding our sixth annual conference near Queensferry recently cost nearly £40,000.”

Amy is now 21 and married to fellow Cockayne Syndrome sufferer Nick Jaminet from Texas.

Nick lives in America but he is presently on a trans-Atlantic visit to spend some time with his wife.

Jayne disclosed that Amy’s condition had deteriorated and her speaking was slurred. But she remained is high spirits and was a “happy and positive girl.”

She said that 75 families from across the Globe had attended the St David’s Hotel conference and eminent scientists had raised hopes of a possible breakthrough treatment as a result of their research.

Jayne and the families of other victims will be hoping for positive news. She said: “In the last 10 weeks we have lost 10 of the children we were supporting.”

Other Morgan Foundation categories include Best New Business, Best Young Entrepreneur, Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise.

The awards attracted hundreds of entries from charities, social enterprise, businesses and entrepreneurs from Merseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire, North Wales and the Wolverhampton area.

Each of the short-listed candidates will now be quizzed by a panel of experts, including awards founder Steve Morgan and senior representatives from sponsors Redrow, Deloitte, Brabners and other prominent businessmen and women from across the region, before the prize-winners are announced in November.

Steve said: “We have received applications from all across the region from a diverse range of individuals, businesses, charities and social enterprises.

“The standard is extremely high so the judges need to really understand the businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them before we can decided who will lift the prizes.

The Women’s Enterprising Breakthrough, based in Birkenhead, has won through to the final selection for Best Small Charity or Social Enterprise making a Social Contribution and Engage Web (Sheer Media Ltd) from Ellesmere Port is through in the Best New Business category.