BRADFORD’S City Hall was illuminated in blue this week to highlight and raise awareness of Fragile X Syndrome, a condition which affects a number of people in the city.

The council gave the Fragile X Society the go-ahead to set up the lights to mark Fragile X Awareness Day and a group people with the condition went along sufferers went along.

Fragile X is a group of inherited genetic conditions, which may affect multiple family members across generations. Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of learning disability, and individuals typically require support from a wide range of services, throughout their lives.

One sufferer who went along to support the campaign was Dennis Gale, 28, son of Josephine Gale, who coaches football locally under the name of Coach Deno.

Josephine said it was important to raise awareness of the little-known condition and was delighted when Bradford Council agreed to allow City Hall to be lit up in blue.

She said: “We need to actively reach out to our community in Bradford as we come out of Covid restrictions and ensure that sufferers are accessing appropriate services and minimising risk to themselves and others. The situation is exemplified within communities where cultural and accessibility challenges contribute to an unmet need. We particularly want to reach out to these families and communities within Bradford and the surrounding areas.

“Furthermore, we know that there are many people missing out on vital services as they do not know how to seek a diagnosis or access services. We will help them to do so.

“Illuminating City Hall will help us enormously, to raise awareness of Fragile X as a condition and ensure that we reach as many people as possible within the Bradford area. This is part of a national campaign, albeit one which focuses upon key areas like Bradford.”

The society was first formed in 1990. Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a group of inherited genetic conditions which may affect multiple family members across generations. FXS is the most common inherited cause of learning disability, and individuals typically require support from a wide range of services, throughout their lives. The Fragile X community consists of many significantly vulnerable people who have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 virus (and the subsequent need to take preventative measures and self-isolate). It is under-diagnosed within BAME communities.

A spokesman for the Society added: “It is worth pointing out that the information and support that we provide is in the ‘essential rather than the ‘nice to know’ category. For example, when a FXS diagnosis is first made couples will need to make life changing decisions regarding issues about the risks of starting a family, sometimes whether or not to continue with a pregnancy or how to change their lives around to support a child with FXS. For those families newly diagnosed we will give them lifelong support whenever it is needed. We are the only organisation that can give them detailed insightful support, based on real life experience and knowledge.”

For more details or support contact 01371 875100 or email: info@fragilex.org.uk You can contact the Fragile X Society’s MD Pete Richardson on: 07400 611064 or email: pete@fragilex.org.uk Further details at: www.fragilex.org.uk