A hairdresser has raised £4,744 to carry out research and help support victims of a horrendous disease which killed her beloved aunt.

Carrie-Anne Wise from Kirklington, near Bedale, handed over the money to the Regional Care Advisor for Huntington’s Disease Lee Martin. Carrie-Anne did a sponsored 25 hour marathon hair dressing session at the Watkins-Wright salon in Thirsk to raise money and awareness of the disease which is hereditary and incurable, causing catastrophic damage to the nervous system.

She decided to hold the event after encountering major ignorance about the disease in the ten years her aunt, Valerie Sharp, suffered before her death at the age of 53.

“It’s been amazing, and has really raised awareness about Huntington’s Disease (HD). After meeting the regional care advisor for HD we are discussing the care and education side and what improvements can be made for training and education in local nursing homes and also families struggling in their home environment too,” said Mrs Wise.

“ I have had people coming to see me who have had Huntington’s Disease in the family, thanking us, and it just shows how important it is, if we can help one other person or family by raising the profile of this horrendous disease then it’s absolutely worthwhile.

“I just wanted to thank every single person and business who helped through sponsorship, donating raffle prizes and making cakes and especially Jill Watkins-Wright who hosted the event at the salon,” she added.