Perth’s walk for a cause brings hope to families impacted by mitochondrial disease, WA clinical trial begins

For thousands of Australians living with mitochondrial disease, the Bloody Long Walk is much more than walking 35 kilometres. The annual fundraising challenge, which this year will be on September 13, raises vital money for the Mito Foundation and awareness for mitochondrial disease — a group of rare genetic disorders that can prevent the body’s cells from producing enough energy to function properly. For Perth mother Preeti Raghwani, every step taken in the challenge carries the memory of her daughter Ziya, who died in September 2019 at just 20 months old after developing a rare form of the disease caused by a mutation in the KARS gene. Ms Raghwani described Ziya as very cheeky, a girl always with a big smile who loved music, the beach and dancing and was always giggling.