A CHARITY ball is being held at Middlewich Civic Hall on Saturday, September 14.

The event hopes to raise awareness for a chronic condition called Chiari Malformation, where the lower part of the brain pushes down on the spinal cord.

Charlotte Edwards, 24, from Middlewich, who is organising the ball, said: "Both my dad Barry, 57, and twin sister Becky have been diagnosed with the condition.

"My dad was successfully operated on in 2002 when very little was known about it.

Northwich Guardian:

Charlotte Edwards and her twin sister Becky, who has Chiari Malformation

"But unfortunately after my sister's diagnosis in 2016, her surgery was unsuccessful in March 2017. She is currently undergoing further tests and investigations to see if there is any more that she can have done."

Barry and Becky live on their family farm in Warmingham.

Chiari Malformation is also known as a brain hernia as the brain is too big for the head and slips down the back of the neck, crating pressure as well as a variety of symptoms.

"There are so many symptoms a Charian can have, it's a lottery as to what they suffer from," said Charlotte. "The only treatment currently seems to be decompression surgery."

Northwich Guardian:

Charlotte Edwards with her twin sister Becky and dad Barry with relatives at a family wedding

The ball is raising funds for The Ann Conroy Trust, which supports people with this condition.

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A hog roast dinner will be served at the black tie event.

A raffle and auction offer a big selection of prizes including flights for two people to New York, a holiday in a villa in Turkey for 14 people, a family photo shoot, a curry night for six, a day's gardening services, afternoon tea and a spa voucher.

Tickets priced £25 are available from Charlotte on 07973 540132 or email combatchiari@gmail.com.