Police recruits used a round-the-island bike ride to add to the money being raised for Georgina Pearce, 12, seen here with sister Jessica, front, and parents Tania and Ian. Georgina suffers from incurable ‘children’s dementia’. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0728169)

THE parents of a terminally-ill girl say they are lost for words at the amount of support they are receiving from islanders.

Tania and Ian Pearce, whose daughter Georgina suffers from a rare and incurable genetic disease that causes ‘children’s dementia’, are moved at the public response to an appeal set up in her name.

By Friday, less than two weeks after the launch of the Georgina’s Gang charity, £2,000 had been raised and on Saturday, police recruits almost doubled that.

Support is still coming in, although there is still a very long way to go to reach the £90,000 target for the 12-year-old, who suffers from Niemann-Pick Type C. Youngsters with the condition will usually not survive into adulthood. They also gradually lose all physical and mental capabilities.

Money raised will go towards the costs of adapting her family home so that Georgina can spend her remaining time in a safe, supportive environment.

A portion of the funds will also be used for research into the neurological disease, which affects just one in 150,000 people.

On Saturday morning, Mr and Mrs Pearce, along with Georgina and her sister, Jessica, 8, saw off a group of police recruits on a round-the-island bike ride in aid of Georgina’s Gang.