An Elland-based charity which could help millions of people has a fundraising art exhibition and sale in West Yorkshire this week.
Christine Beal, of Rastrick, co-founded My Mito Mission after losing her daughter, Emma, to the little known condition Mitochondrial Disease.
It’s a complex condition but essentially mitochondrial are like little battery packs inside every cell in the body converting food into energy and if they don’t work properly they can have a major impact on people’s main organs, health and basic wellbeing.
The charity has an unusual way of operating in that people who suffer from the condition set up their own Mito Missions to raise awareness and fundraising for the condition and Huddersfield Hub has featured two cases from the town recently.
One is dad-of-two Eddie Wall from Shepley who is a bespoke tailor and discovered he had the condition by sheer chance.
Why Eddie’s rare medical condition means he’s a man with a mission – Huddersfield Hub
The other are grandparents Jane and Jason Bates from Salendine Nook whose granddaughter Ella Bates was born with Pearson Syndrome, an incredibly rare mitochondrial disease which affects only 100 people worldwide, and, sadly, has a life expectancy of only three to five years.
Symptoms can start at any age and can involve any organ in the body with Emma suffering severe problems to her heart and brain before sadly dying in 2017.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is now known to be a factor in some of the most common and well-known medical conditions and diseases such as cancer, dementia, Parkinson’s, strokes, sepsis, diabetes, epilepsy and even Covid 19.
“This is why research into Mitochondrial Disease is so critical,” said Christine. “It can help in the treatment and research for many other conditions which is why we say that Mitochondrial research matters to millions. The more money we can put into mitochondrial research, the more a lot of other conditions could benefit.”
Christine and Peter Beal with their daughters Emma (right) and Beth in 2012
The art sale is now on at Culturedale Hub, Northgate House, off Wade Street in the centre of Halifax, HX1 1UR, until this Sunday (November 10) from 10am to 3pm. It will then transfer online on 12th November until the end of the month.
All the work has been donated by the artists who include Darren Baker from Huddersfield who is renowned for being the official portrait artist to The Queen in 2011 and the official artist of the 2012 Olympic Games; Carol Banks from Brighouse who is known for her landscapes in oils, acrylics and pastels; Roger Davies who brings to life the charm of everyday scenes such as people, shopfronts, pubs and iconic buildings; Brighouse-based Matthew Evans who is inspired by buildings, landscapes, florals, sunsets, seascapes and townscapes and Barbara Place from Pudsey whose passion is painting flowers in watercolour.
One of the charity’s long-time supporters is Elland-based Gaggia UK coffee machine suppliers which is providing the iconic Gaggia coffee machines at the event.
Gaggia managing director Raj Beadle, who lives in Huddersfield, said: “We’ve been very keen to support My Mito Mission in any way we can since I first heard about it.
“This is a charity based very near us yet is determined to fundraise for vital research which could ultimately benefit millions of people who suffer from diseases that bring such devastation to people’s lives.
“We are so pleased to help Christine and My Mito Mission whenever we can and in whatever way we can.”
Watch Christine explaining more about My Mito Mission on this video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2lRMzPG8T4
For more on the art exhibition go to https://www.mymitomission.uk/art-for-mito-24/
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