Mike McRoberts, our patron

When Rob Pakes was desperate about getting help for Alysha, he wrote to Mike about publicising Rett syndrome and the plight of Rett families. Mike promised to do a programme on Rett and Alysha to publicise the complex nature of Rett syndrome so other parents would not have to go through the same diagnostic odyssey that is the pattern for rare diseases. The video of the programme can be viewed here.

Mike spoke at the first Rett fundraising dinner in Rotorua and agreed to become the patron of Rett NZ.

Mike McRoberts is one of New Zealand's pre-eminent television and radio journalists. He currently hosts the curent affairs programme 60 MInutes and presents the daily news on TV3.

Dr Mike Sullivan, Rett ambassador

Mike's interest in Rett syndrome was inspired by his professor Mac Gardner at med school. He then happened to be at the San Francisco conference when the breakthrough on the Rett gene was announced. He went to the Rett syndrome booth to get the information for Mac and there he spoke to Kathy Hunter who told him she had been in New Zealand and gave him Gillian's e-mail address.

Rett NZ has been so fortunate that in spite of his busy life as a paedatric oncologist and chair of the Telepaediatric Group, Mike has had time to assist and support us. Thank you Mike for explaining in ways we can understand the complexities of Rett syndrome (click here to see Mike's talk at the 2007 conference).

Anna Stanley, Rett ambassador

As Julia Roberts has helped raise Rett syndrome awareness on the international stage, Anna Stanley has become a Rett ambassador to publicize the Rett NZ cause and raise awareness of this condition. We are grateful to Anna for her generous work.

Anna is a famous New Zealand netballer (better known as Anna Rowberry) and has a busy life with her sport and her husband and adorable daughter. Read more about Anna supporting our cause in New Idea.