A BURY charity is celebrating after receiving new funding to roll out its new programme across England.

Annabelle’s Challenge, a leading UK charity for vascular Ehler-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) now has £177,415 in National Lottery funding to deliver the vEDS Support Programme.

The funding was presented to the charity by Mayor of Bury Cllr Tim Pickstone and comes from the National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by lottery players for good causes and funds community activity.

The charity plans to use the funding to connect individuals and families who have been diagnosed with vEDS.

Jared Griffin, their founder, said: “We’re delighted the National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way.

“This is a massive boost for Annabelle’s Challenge and the vEDS community we serve. It givs us the security and confidence to deploy our vEDS Support Programme, thanks to National Lottery players.

“Securing this funding also has the benefit that all future fundraising events carried out by our members and supporters can potentially go directly towards vEDs research.

“This week we welcomed the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Tim Pickstone, to the office.

“The visit included a cheque presentation and the opportunity to meet with some of the volunteers to learn more about the work we do and spoke about being recipients of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.”

Annabelle’s Challenge was founded in 2013 by Jared and wife Sarah, after their daughter, Annabelle, was diagnosed with vEDS, the most severe form of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

It works with those affected by the condition, by delivering helpline support, school talks, regional support groups, meeting families in their homes, and facilitating ambulance markers.

The rare, incurable and life-threatening illness is though to affect just 740 people in the UK and causes collagen deficiency meaning those suffering from it live with the constant risk of their internal organs rupturing at any moment.