Stories - July 30, 2024
Intereach supports Jeans for Genes Day 2024
Intereach Early Childhood practitioner Chontelle has experienced the heartache of losing a child. A baby that ultimately had little chance of life outside the womb.
Chontelle and husband Joel’s son Tyler was born sleeping on 16 November 2022 after being diagnosed with a rare and fatal genetic condition.
To honour Tyler’s life, and support other families impacted by genetic conditions, Chontelle and Joel support a variety of charities, including Jeans for Genes Day on Friday 2 August 2024.
“Unfortunately, in Australia we are only one of many families affected by a genetic condition. One-in-20 children face a genetic disease or birth defect,” Chontelle said.
To raise funds for Jeans for Genes Day and support families like Chontelle’s, Intereach teams will participate in a range of initiatives, including Bake it Blue and dusting off the double denim, during the week starting Monday 29 July.
Support for Jeans for Genes Day has helped scientists and clinicians at Children’s Medical Research Institute run the first clinical trial using gene therapy in Australia, to correct a genetic disease SCID-X1 deficiency, or “boy in the bubble disease”. It was also the first outside North America to trial a cure for spinal muscular atrophy.
Right now, the institute is working on gene therapy to find cures for previously incurable genetic diseases, like Propionic Acidemia and OTC-deficiency.
These incredible developments in medical science provide hope and makes a difference for the future of families like Chontelle’s and many of the children and families we support in Intereach’s early childhood approach and local area coordination services.
My family’s dream is that no child is affected, or family is faced with loss through a genetic disease or syndrome.“
“We want to see gene therapy that can support children to go from diagnosis to cure, and that those cures are affordable and available right here in Australia,” Chontelle said.
You can get involved and support Intereach to contribute to this life-changing work by donating to our fundraiser here: https://fundraise.jeansforgenes.org.au/fundraisers/intereach
There’s lots of work to do, but there is also lots of hope.
Join us. Share this story. Donate. Thank you!
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