My name is Rhea Kara.   In 2014 when I was 8 years old I heard about the Reverse Rett charity from my primary school.  This is a charity run by mums and dads of children who suffer from Rett Syndrome.  Rett is an illness which does not allow you to use your body anymore.  You suddenly can’t use your hands or legs and are trapped in your own body.  It mostly affects young girls.  I cannot imagine how I would feel if this happened to me – I would not be able to paint or do arts and crafts anymore!

There is not a cure for Rett as yet but there is hope.  They have reversed Rett syndrome in mice and are now trying to get this treatment to work on young girls who are affected by this, such as my friend Hannah.

My passion is art so to raise money for Reverse Rett I decided to paint and sell 100 canvasses in 100 days every year till we have raised enough money and a cure has been found.  I have been undertaking this 100 day challenge every year since 2014 where I start painting exactly 100 days before the Abbeville Village Fete (this is always on the last weekend of June).  You can support me by sponsoring me for my 100 day challenge and also by coming to the Abbeville Fete and buying my art.

I was very honoured to have been shortlisted for the National Fundraising award 2015 and to receive the Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister.  This has helped raise awareness of Rett syndrome and will help raise even more money for the charity.

I will not stop fundraising till we find a cure for Rett Syndrome.

Please join me in my fundraising effort by clicking on the DONATE button.  Without the funds for research, the scientists will not be able to find a cure for Rett syndrome.

David Cameron
Prime Minister

‘Like many young people, Rhea was incredibly moved when she saw a friend suffering from a debilitating illness.  But what makes Rhea stand out is that she was motivated to use her creativity and hard work to try and make a difference. To have raised so much money to support vital research for her friend Hannah and others with Rett syndrome is fantastic. And to have done so before she’s even turned ten, is truly astounding.  I wish Rhea all the best in her new fundraising challenge.  She is an inspiration to us all and I am so pleased to make her a Point of Light.”

Mrs Sarah Segrave,
Head Mistress,
Eaton House
The Manor Girls’ School

“I am enormously proud of Rhea. She has given up a great deal of her free time to create some wonderful pictures, and raised a significant amount of money in the process. To do this once was commendable. To realise that more research, and hence more funds were still needed, and to repeat the project this year, shows true grit and determination to improve the lives of others.”

Chuka Umunna
MP for Streatham

“Acting selflessly, using her abilities to help others, setting herself a challenge and surpassing her aim by raising such an impressive amount of money for vital research into Rett Syndrome: Rhea is an example and inspiration to all of us.”

Rhea Kara at the Pride of Britain Awards
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