IN ONE evening a Tedburn St Mary family and friends raised an amazing £6,510 to help people born with a genetic disorder.

Ella, aged 19 months, was born with Noonan Syndrome which affects around one in 2,500 live births.

She is the second daughter of Gary and Eve Martin who live at Tedburn. On the evening of Saturday, September 23 they held a family fundraiser in Tedburn Village Hall in aid of the charity, helped by their family and friends.

A big part of this was the launch of the “Devonshire Dads” calendar in which a dozen local chaps had braved taking their “togs off” for the charity, using props for modesty.

Photographer was Dee Côté from Drewsteignton, who also happened to be the singer with “Bias”, the band playing for the evening.

The calendars include Eve’s husband, brother and her father, a local pub landlord and farmers, all in very tasteful poses in this great fun calendar.

At the back it explains what Noonan Syndrome is and about the work of the Noonan Syndrome Association.

Symptoms can vary greatly but around 80 per cent of people suffer from congenital heart defects. There can be feeding problems, it can affect speech and hearing and development can be delayed.

Although the number of people in the UK with Noonan Syndrome is comparable to the number with Down’s Syndrome, there is comparatively little awareness and consequently little support for those affected.

The Association can help parents, carers and family members affected by the Syndrome. It carries out research and works to improve awareness of the condition. There is the website: www.noonansyndrome.org.uk and look out for other events in the area to help.

The evening included a charity auction with lots ranging from Exeter Rugby Chiefs tickets, champagne, 18 holes of golf, Exeter City FC tickets, gardening, Gary offering himself for a DIY session, Eve for six hours of cleaning, a taxi limo, a load of logs, a short break for a family and more in the 20 lots.

There was also a donation of £2,000 from Churchill Retirement Living.

Calendars, costing £8 each, are for sale via Facebook and the Noonan Syndrome pages, the Kings Arms pub at Tedburn and the village shop.

Also that evening was the silent auction with more than 30 lots that included a half day’s paint ball session for two people, a clay shoot, cream tea at Bovey Castle or entry to Dartmoor Zoo.

Sue Read