Littlehampton council’s ‘jean team’ raise money

Dozens of staff members at Arun District Council slipped into their most comfortable pair of jeans for the annual Jeans for Genes day, on Friday.

The day, which has featured on the council’s calendar for several years, helped to raise more than £500 worth of vital funds for gene therapy charity, Genetic Disorders UK.

All the money raised during the day will go towards the care and support children suffering with genetic disorders as well as helping to fund vital life-changing, gene therapy research.

Arun’s new chief executive, Nigel Lynn, was among those taking part in Friday’s event.

He said: “I understand that Arun has been supporting this event for several years and it is my pleasure to be a part of such a worthy, fund-raising event.”

Staff at the council persuaded colleagues, friends and family to back their efforts to beat last year’s sponsorship total of £600.

Organiser, Nicki Williams, spoke of her pride in helping to arrange this year’s event.

Nicki, a payroll manager at the council, said: “This is such a massively important event. It’s a really worthwhile cause that everybody at the council is glad to be behind.

“I think that, from the point of view of a mother, you never expect your child to be diagnosed with a genetic disorder.

“For many families across the country, this has to be a tremendously difficult experience to go through. So any help we can provide, to support these families, is really important.”