ISLANDERS are being asked to help raise money for a terminally ill Guernsey youngster with a rare genetic disease.

Campaigners from the newly-formed charity, Georgina’s Gang, hope to raise £90,000 to help Georgina Pearce (pictured) lead as independent a life as possible for as long as she can.

The 12-year-old from Cobo has Niemann-Pick disease, a neurological condition that causes early dementia.

Affecting just one in 150,000 people, there are only 72 other known cases in the UK and there is no cure.

Survival rates vary but youngsters with the inherited, life-limiting illness may not live past the age of 16.

Georgina already requires round-the-clock care from her family. None of them suffer from the devastating disease that, as it progresses, sees patients eventually lose control of all mental and physical abilities.

Now fund-raisers want to raise cash to help adapt her home at Route de Cobo.

• Various events are being planned by the charity’s fund-raising committee – including a pink-themed ball at St Pierre Park on 27 March.For more details about tickets or the appeal contact 07781 456286 or 07781 420456.
• A website has been created at www.georginasgang.com