Although they are born looking healthy, children with Progeria soon begin to display the characteristics of accelerated ageing at around 18-24 months of age. Progeria symptoms include growth failure, loss of body fat and hair, aged-looking skin, stiffness of joints, hip dislocation, heart disease and strokes.

Children with Progeria die of atherosclerosis (heart disease) at an average age of thirteen years (with a range of about 8 - 21 years).

Because this condition is so rare, funding for medical research is extremely limited with most money going towards researching illnesses which affect more people. Until recently, the only charity raising money for research into finding a cure for Progeria, was The Progeria Research Foundation which is based in America.

Last year, 9 year old Progeria sufferer Hayley Okines released a fundraising single called VOICES OF TOMORROW and now her parents Mark and Kerry are setting up the UK branch of the Progeria Research Foundation.

Mark and Kerry Okines are seeking high profile/celebrity patron/s for this charity and would be thrilled to hear from anyone who might like to help raise the profile of this cause.

For more information about progeria, please visit
www.myspace.com/song4progeria
http://www.progeriaresearch.org