A Tayside mum whose daughter has a rare condition that means her life could be threatened by extreme allergic reactions is raising money for charity.
Three-year-old Charlotte Richmond has Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), which gives her severe allergies and intolerances to certain foods.
Her mum Victoria has teamed up with three of her nursing colleagues to tackle the Dundee Kiltwalk on Sunday.
She hopes to make £1,000 for Mast Cell Action, which has supported the family, and raise awareness of the challenges faced by MCAS sufferers.
Due to Charlotte’s strict eating regime – the tot can only eat beef, carrots, butternut squash, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber or rice – every outing has to be planned with military precision and her parents often have to visit multiple shops to get ingredients for a single meal.
Victoria, 34, who lives in Inchture with husband Colin, said: “Charlotte will not be walking with us – it’s a little far for her at the moment- however she will be making a big flag and will definitely be there for us crossing the finishing line with daddy.
“We have a team together, aptly named team Charlotte 2018 which has myself, Gaynor Brown, Sharon Sime and Annie Scott in it.
“These girls are not only nursing colleagues but amazing friends.
“We are so grateful that they think enough of Charlotte to give up their time, on-going support and effort to help us raise awareness and money for the charity.”
Charlotte has had colic symptoms of continuous crying, poor sleep and drawing her knees up to her tummy ever since she was born, but did not respond to medication.
She also had dry skin and a swollen, red face, developing hives on her lip when she was four months old and in September 2015, she was admitted to hospital due to her poor skin and low weight.
Charlotte’s reactions were – and continue to be – accompanied by drastic changes in mood, with Charlotte becoming very upset, unhappy and irritable.
In 2017 she was diagnosed with MCAS and she was started on a steroid and a mast cell stabiliser.
With medication and careful control of her diet, Charlotte’s symptoms are just about manageable, however she does have flare-ups involving trips to A&E.
Victoria added: “We can’t take her on a plane or anywhere that doesn’t have a hospital nearby. However, we’re hoping that as she gets older we’ll be able to introduce more foods into her diet.”
To donate towards the family’s cause, visit https://dundeekiltwalk2018.everydayhero.com/uk/victoria
