Raising awareness for NZ Williams syndrome.

I will be running the Christchurch half marathon to help raise awareness for the nz Williams syndrome association. I was first introduced to my good friend George's little brother henry who has Williams syndrome. The are an inspiring and supportive family in our community so I thought I would do my bit and support them by running a half marathon.

Williams Syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone. It is characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. These often occur side by side with striking verbal abilities, highly social personalities and an affinity for music.

WS affects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide – an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States and 200 in New Zealand. It is known to occur equally in both males and females and in every culture.