A Chester mum is urging people to back a charity cycle ride to raise awareness about the rare genetic condition which claimed the life of her baby son.
Teddy Peters was aged just 11 months when he passed away in July this year from Williams Syndrome.
The condition includes cardiovascular disease, developmental delays and learning disabilities.
Teddy’s mother Tanya Peters, partner Stephen Morgan, 28, and daughter Alissia, six, will wave riders off in the Awareness of Williams Syndrome Outstanding Mobility Endurance Event.
The 24-hour, 210-mile challenge begins on August 30 in Chester and ends the following day in Alton, Hampshire.
Cyclists will power their way through seven counties before arriving in Alton at the Williams Syndrome Awareness Family Fun Day at The Departure Lounge Café.
Before they set off riders will collect a specially commissioned teddy bear from Teddy’s family and present it at the fun day before a balloon release in memory of the baby takes place.
Tanya said: “We really need to raise awareness about this condition.
“Before Teddy was diagnosed with it I had never even heard about it - a lot of health care professionals are also unaware of it.
“Teddy was quite irritable and had high levels of calcium in his blood.
“It was hard work because he always struggled with feeding.
“At times he did seem to be doing quite well and overcame the odds but he died from a cardiac arrest.”
Wendy Morris of Alton, lead rider in the bid is taking part after her friend’s granddaughter was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome.
The community nursing sister said: “There will be five riders in total and we know it will be pretty tough going because we’re riding through the night.
“But it’s so important we raise awareness about this condition.”
Lizzie Hurst, chief executive at Williams Syndrome Foundation, said without volunteer fundraisers the charity would be unable to support those living with the condition.
She said: “We rely entirely on fundraising and donations to provide expert evidence based information and practical user friendly resources for our members, their families and professionals around them.
“The Foundation puts people with Williams Syndrome and their families in touch through our network of regional representatives and local programmes of social and information events.
“We also subsidise much needed respite and holidays for people with Williams Syndrome and those who care for them.”
The 24-hour endurance event will start from The Holiday Inn, south of Chester at noon on Saturday, August 30.
To support the charity or to find out more, visit www.williams-syndrome.org.uk.
