BY PETE HENSHAW

HIDDEN away in the midst of Crewe Hall is a little known organisation called Climb.

Although many people do not know who or what it is the charity helps hundreds of people who suffer from rare metabolic diseases.

Climb is also the largest centre for information on metabolic diseases in the country with over 1,500 people nationwide benefiting from its services and 400 north west families among these users.

The charity is based in The Quadrangle by the side of Crewe Hall on Weston Road and has recently been awarded a £4,000 grant after a mystery person nominated it. The grant was given by Somerfield supermarket's community fund after a mother in Bristol, whose son had benefited from Climb's service, nominated the charity.

Ollie Braithwaite, Climb fund-raiser, said they still had no idea as to who exactly it was but were very grateful none the same.

"We do not actually know which parent it was but we were absolutely gob smacked that they put the grant forward to us," said Ollie

"As we represent rare disorders it is not easy to attract funds, this is a fantastic boost and will help us support even more families," he added.

Climb is a definite jewel in the crown for Crewe and the charity has attracted international recognition with Phil Collins becoming president to help raise awareness.

Climb was set up in 1981 when co-founders Peter and Lesley Greene from Nantwich discovered their daughter Jenny suffered from a metabolic disease.

"They had a lot of foresight and when they realised their daughter's condition was so rare that they would never attract massive public funding for treating the disease they set up the charity," Ollie explained.

The administrative offices are based at Crewe Hall as well as the counsellors who are available over the phone and to see face to face.

Ollie explained further: "If people have a query they can ring in, if they have recently lost a child or if they require further information on the diseases."

Climb is also the leading place in the country where professionals go for information.

"Doctors, GPs and other professional come to us for information and refer people to us from their surgeries," Ollie said.

There are around 1300 metabolic diseases all of which are quite rare and Ollie explained that parents often don't know that their children have one.

Metabolic diseases are inherited and occur when there is a breakdown in the very many, complicated reactions which take place in our bodies.

However, the relatively small staff of 10 people at Climb are dedicated to fighting the hundreds of rare diseases and proving this is the fact they have provided over £1 million in grants for research since 1981.

Next in the agenda for Ollie is the national gathering for the charity in October when a service of celebration will be held at Pershore Abbey in Worcestershire.

This will be an opportunity for all supporters and sufferers from Climb to look to the future but to also remember those who have lost their battle.

Factfile

Metabolic diseases are more common than cancers in childhood.

Climb is the only charity in the UK which covers all 1,300 metabolic diseases.

Over the last 18 years Climb have helped thousands of families nationwide.

For more information on Climb and metabolic disease please contact 01270 250221.

Visit their website at www.climb.org.uk

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