A South Wootton teenager born with an extremely rare genetic syndrome is raising money for research into the condition.

 Charlotte Ranger, 17, is one of less than 300 people in the world to be born with M-CM (macrocephaly-capillary malformation) which causes irregular growth in parts of the body and the brain.

The condition means Charlotte finds day to day activities difficult and has pain in her legs due to circulation problems. 

She also has learning difficulties and problems with balance and co-ordination. 

Mum Amy Ranger said: “Charlotte is a very happy person and just gets on with it. She has lots of balance and co-ordination problems but just finds ways round it.

“A charity has been set up in America to research M-CM and it liaises with the UK research centre. The target is to raise $200,000 and we wanted to do our part to help that.

“The charity is looking at ways to slow down the overgrowth and that could be really beneficial in the future.”

Charlotte is a foundation course student at the college and learned to make pom poms there.

Ms Ranger said: “She doesn’t have very good manual dexterity in her hands but it relaxes her to sit and make pom poms.”

Charlotte, who has two sisters Emily, 18, and Olivia, 5, decided to try to sell 100 pom poms for £1 each to raise money for the charity.

She said: “I am so pleased at how many people want to buy my pom poms, it will really help to raise awareness of this very rare syndrome and raise much-needed money for research.”

Anyone wishing to buy one should search for Charlotte’s Pom Poms for £1 on Facebook.

They can also be purchased from Your Local Paper at 29 King Street, King’s Lynn but we can only accept exact money.

Charlotte is also asking for donations of wool to help her make more pom poms. Wool donations can be dropped off at the YLP office.