Our ambassadors

Tom Staniford is an para-cyclist from Exeter, Devon. Tom has MDP Syndrome, an extremely rare genetic mutation which affects his metabolism of fat. The condition affects just 8 people worldwide.

Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis has a form of dwarfism known as Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia congenita (SED). SED is a bone growth disorder resulting in skeletal abnormalities but there can also be problems with vision, hearing and other complications.

Businesswoman, singer, television personality, novelist and model Katie Price has been a long-term supporter of Jeans for Genes. Katie’s son Harvey was born with two genetic disorders, septo-optic dysplasia meaning that the development of his optic nerve was unpredictable. Harvey also has Prader-Willis syndrome which means that he gains wait easily and finds walking difficult.

Coleen has supported Jeans for Genes Day for 15 years. Coleen’s sister Rosie had Rett syndrome and sadly died in 2013, aged just 14. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder that affects the way the brain develops, causing a progressive inability to use muscles for eye and body movements and speech. It occurs almost exclusively in girls

Anti-bullying campaigner Ashley Carter was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare genetic condition, which is believed to affect around 1 in 10,000 babies. Ashley was born with no cheekbones and hearing difficulties.

Jono Lancaster was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare genetic condition, which is believed to affect around 1 in 10,000 babies, meaning he was born with no cheekbones and hearing difficulties.

X Factor finalist Nicholas McDonald was born with a rare genetic condition called Long QT syndrome, which is believed to affect 1 in 2,000 people. Long QT syndrome is a serious heart condition which can cause fainting and episodes of an abnormally rapid heart rhythm, called arrhythmia.

Coronation Street actress Cherylee Houston has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS is a group of genetic disorders that affect collagen proteins in the body. Typical features are stretchy skin, loose joints and fragile body tissues. EDS affects at least one person in 5,000 in the UK.

Doctor and broadcaster Oscar Duke was born with the genetic condition Albinism. Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. Albinism is associated with a number of vision defects, while the lack of skin pigmentation makes for more susceptibility to sunburn and skin cancers.

Writer, campaigner, public speaker and actress Victoria Wright has Cherubism. Cherubism is a rare genetic disorder that causes prominence in the lower portion in the face. Beginning in early childhood, both the lower jaw and the upper jaw become enlarged as bone is replaced with painless, cyst-like growths.

Campaigner and broadcaster Adam Pearson has neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that affects one in every 2,300 people and which causes non-cancerous tumours to grow on nerve tissue. In Adam's case, the majority of these tumours are on his face.

Fashionista Louise Wedderburn has Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), a rare genetic disorder that causes the soft connective tissue of the body, such as the muscles, to gradually turn to bone. There are only 45 confirmed cases of FOP in the UK.

Actress Kerry Danielle Ingram has the genetic disorder osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as Brittle Bone Disease. Kerry regularly fractures her bones and requires periodic infusions to increase her bone mass.

Actor Jack Binstead has osteogenesis omperfecta (OI), or Brittle Bone Disease. OI is caused by a problem with collagen levels, a protein that forms the framework for bone structure. In OI, the collagen may be of poor quality or there may not be enough to support the mineral structure of the bones. This makes bones fragile and liable to fracture at any time without trauma. Jack has been a wheelchair user since the age of three and has suffered over 60 broken bones.

Producer Duncan Beiny aka DJ Yoda, has a young daughter with Rett Syndrome. Rett syndrome is a severe, life-long neurological genetic disorder affecting 1 in 12,000 girls in the UK today.
Girls affected with Rett Syndrome are believed to understand everything but they are not in control of their speech or their movements. Affected children lose the ability to move and communicate and end up requiring 24 hour care and are often fed through a tube. Complications can include seizures, digestive and cardiac problems, curvature of the spine and sudden death.