A LITTLE girl living with cystic fibrosis is the inspiration for a charity event to raise as much as possible in the hope of finding a cure.

A LITTLE girl living with cystic fibrosis is the inspiration for a charity event to raise as much as possible in the hope of finding a cure.

Five-year-old Rosa Beales was diagnosed two years ago and has daily medication and treatment to make life as easy as possible.

Alongside a spoonful of liquid medicine once a day, she also has “percussion” where she is hit on the back to loosen fluid on her lungs, and enjoys playing on her trampoline, which has the same effect. She also visits a cystic fibrosis clinic at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) once a month.

The East Harling Primary School pupil is now the reason for a cake bake to be held later this month which will bring members of the community together in a fundraising bid.

Dreamt up by her aunt, Emma Bushell-Smith, the event will take place on May 22, during cystic fibrosis awareness week, at Dower House near Thetford.

All money raised will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust which funds research and supports those with the condition.

Mrs Bushell-Smith, 28, a learning support assistant at Old Buckenham School, said: “It's a charity which is close to our hearts and I think it's nice to support charities in general.

“Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common inherited diseases but one which other people around them might not know they have.

“She's such a lovely girl and they need all the help they can get. She's such an inspiration to people.”

Little Rosa was diagnosed when she was almost three-years-old after suffering from a bout of colds. After numerous visits to the doctor she was referred to the NNUH where she was diagnosed with a strain of cystic fibrosis.

The condition, which affects more than 8,500 people in the UK, attacks the internal organs including the lungs and digestive system by clogging them with thick, sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.

Rosa's mother, Laura Beales, 24, a full-time mother who lives with Rosa, two-year-old Willow and her partner of seven years, on Timber Road in East Harling, said: “When she was born I knew something wasn't right.

“The hospital did blood tests and told me I didn't need to be alarmed but then I got a phone call asking me to come in. I started crying but within a few months of going up there once or twice a month we'd come to terms with it and learnt how to deal with it.

“Obviously there is no cure which why we're doing the cake bake to raise money to find a cure.”

The bake sale will take place at Dower House near Thetford, which is owned by Rosa's grandparents, and where Rosa's father, Rob Bushell, 22, lives, between 10am and 2pm on May 22. Parking is available.