Archie Jake Armitt, 8, was well-loved by many in the Marulan area. He spent a lot of his free time on his grandparents’ farm, was an Honorary Member of the Historical Society, a valuable member of the girls’ trivia team at the Terminus Hotel and a great source of information on super heroes.
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Archie died from mitochondrial disease a year ago. In his memory, 14 family and friends (Archie's Angels) will join the Bloody Long Walk in Canberra on Sunday, October 30.
The 35km trek raises funds for the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, which supports patients and their families, funds essential research and works to educate the public and medical profession about 'mito' (see amdf.org.au).
This is an insidious disease, and difficult to diagnose as it affects many organs, leading to many different diagnoses. Mito can affect anyone at any age, but for young children it can be debilitating and many do not survive to be teenagers. One Australian child born each week will develop a severe or life threatening form of mitochondrial disease.
It is a genetic condition, meaning it is an error in the DNA composition and is not catching. You are born with it and it can be passed down through the family or it may arise with no known family links. There is currently no cure and few effective treatments.
To support all these hardy souls – or should that be hardy soles, after 35km – Archie's Angels are asking people to sponsor them or, better still, enrol as a walker.
The team goal is to raise at least $15,000 (although the target is not limited to that) for the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.
- To donate, go to everydayhero.com.au/event/blw-canberra-2016
Alternatively, give a donation directly to an Archie’s Angels team member.
If you have any questions, wish to join the team or want to know more and don't have a computer or the internet, just ring Emily: 0428 411 546.