PERTHES ASSOCIATION is an entirely Voluntary Organisation, founded in Birmingham in 1976. It moved to Guildford in 1991 and became a National Charity. Patrons of the Association include Barry Cryer, David Kelly and the late Kevin Lloyd, whom most of you will know as "Tosh" of The Bill. The Association aims to help and advise families of children suffering from Perthes' disease and Associated conditions in all parts of the British Isles and abroad. Perthes' disease ( a potentially crippling disease of the hip) is a form of osteochondritis, which affects 5.5 per 100,000 children (mainly boys) between the ages of 2 and 15 years.

Perthes Association's volunteers are 'at the end of the telephone line' for any worried or distressed parents, and will visit them if possible or put them in touch with a family living locally. They have Christmas Parties for the children and outings and events for the whole family, plus fund raising events, which enable the families to meet and either share their problems or possibly the solutions to them. They produce a quarterly newsletter, run competitions for the children, and have a flourishing pen-pal programme. More recently they have introduced a similar programme for the adult members and have allocated them space to exchange ideas through the newsletter. Membership currently stands at over 1000 families, with over 5,000 families on our current records.

The Association gives advice on practical and financial help available, and supports any family with a child suffering from Perthes' disease, or M.E.D. (Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia - which is not self-limiting, and affects many joints), or other forms of Osteochondritis including Severs disease, Kohler's, Osgood Schlatter's, & Scheuermann's disease. We have more recently supported families and supplied equipment for children with C.D.H. (Congenital Dislocation of the hip). This support is available for as long as it is needed, and although at the age of 18 the children become members in their own right, they are still able to use all the services available. Family Membership is currently £15 per year for UK residents and £30 (sterling) for Overseas(1998)

REGISTERED CHARITY No. 326161