THE family of a six-year-old with a rare and unknown neurological condition affecting her balance and speech have launched a fundraising campaign to find a cure.

Eva Turner, who lives near Wallingford, has difficulty with her balance and speech and struggles to process new information.

But despite being behind her peers in terms of development she continues to make progress and enjoys horse-riding, swimming, trampolining, crafts and cooking.

Her parents Carla and Adam have launched a '1 in 20,000' fundraising campaign, through their charity Eva's Friends, to raise awareness of rare neurological conditions and work towards a cure.

Mrs Turner said: "We have been catapulted into this extraordinary life and all we can do is support her, love her and treat her like any other child.

"She is the only known person in the world with this particular genetic variation, but to us she is just our little girl."

The campaign - named after the approximate number of genes in the human genome - has called for 20,000 people to donate £2 a month.

Eva was 11 months old before she could crawl and wasn't walking until she was almost two and her early development made her parents concerned.

Mrs Turner said: "The day she walked those seeds of doubt surrounding her development really started to take hold.

"Instead of finding her balance and taking tentative steps, Eva would desperately hold onto something before making a quick dash, using her shoulders to direct herself, before hanging on to something else for dear life."

Oxford Mail:

Though her walking improved, she remained slow and unbalanced and she developed a tremor in her hands.

After undergoing an MRI scan and lumbar puncture at the age of three, neurologists discovered a variation in one of her genes - but could not find any medical literature on her condition or be certain how her symptoms would progress.

Further testing revealed a second variation in a gene called MECP2 - which is known to cause Rett Syndrome, affecting the muscles for eye and body movements and speech most commonly found in girls.

But Eva's symptoms are not those of typical Rett Syndrome and her condition has left the family with an uncertain future.

Eva's mother Carla added: "We have founded Eva's Friends to both raise awareness or rare neurological conditions in children and to raise funds for pioneering research that has the potential to change their lives for the better."

"For us and other families whose children have rare neurological conditions, research means hope."

The money raised from the campaign will go toward a project in collaboration with the Rett Syndrome Research Trust, which funds a global network of research teams.

The family hoped the extra funds would accelerate cutting edge research and move it closer to a cure.

To donate go to mydonate.bt.com/charities/evasfriends