DETERMINED Mia Pegram is raising money to help find a cure for Perthes Disease. 

The 10-year-old has already raised hundreds of pounds for the Perthes Association by making bracelets and organising a Zips for Hips dress up day at school.

Tomorrow she will hold a bake sale and raffle at St Anne’s Church in Compton Road, Colchester, between 11.30am and 1.30pm. 

She was diagnosed with the condition last year, which is causing her hip joint to disintegrate and means she has to use either crutches or a wheelchair.

Mia, who wants to open her own bakery when she is older said: “They could shut down if they don’t get funding and that is the only charity with information.

“I hope one day that someone can find out more about why some children get Perthes and the best treatment for it and maybe one day find a cure.”

Lisa Grant of The Perthes Association said: “Perthes disease has been described as the most confusing and poorly understood condition in paediatric orthopaedics.

First recognised just over a hundred years ago, treatments for Perthes disease have over the years gone from total bed rest in the 50's and 60's where the child spent months in hospital unable to weight bear, various splints, braces and plaster cats in the 70's and 80's and when these failed to help on to various types of surgery.

“Even today consultants across the UK have varying opinions on how these children should be treated and research is ongoing to discover the cause of the disease as well as the best way to treat it.

“There is no government or corporate funding for our work with families of children with Perthes disease or for the very important research that we are involved in and so we are totally reliant on our members, friends and the general public for donations so we are very grateful to Mia and her family for organising this event.”

To support Mia’ fundraising click here.