An artist whose sons have an incurable disease has been inspired to curate an exhibition to raise money for the charity supporting her family.
In July, the two children of Epsom author Nick Taussig and artist Klara Taussig-Cecmanova, Oskar, 1, and Theo, 3, were diagnosed with fatal disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy - a genetic condition causing muscle weakness.
Utterly devastated, Mr Taussig immediately pledged to do all he could to find a cure and signed up for the first of many marathons.
He has already raised more than £41,000 and become a trustee at research charity Harrison's Fund based in Cobham.
And this month, his wife is co-curating an exhibition and art auction in aid of the charity in Notting Hill.
Mrs Taussig-Cecmanova was part of the curatorial team who put together the show, When Boys Become Men, alongside British artist Barry Martin and Samir Ceric, founder and CEO of the host gallery Debut Contemporary.
The charity will benefit from 20 per cent of the money raised from sale of the exhibition pieces.
The artwork submitted by Klara Taussig-Cecmanova for the exhibition
The Harrison Fund’s goal is to get as much money as possible into the hands of the world’s best researchers who are working to find a cure for the disease.
The gallery has also committed to attempting to raise £200,000 for the charity over the next year through various activities.
Mrs Taussig-Cecmanova said: "I would like to thank Samir for his vision and support.
"I want to do all I can to save my sons, and other Duchenne boys, and what better way than through art."
Mr Ceric added: "I have been working with Klara closely over the last year at the gallery and when she shared her news I was devastated.
"The artists I work with are like family to me, so I wanted to show her how much I care about her and her family on both professional and personal front by not only hosting this event but working with her family and Harrison’s Fund over a longer period of time as well as mobilising the artistic community to help fight this illness so we jointly do our everything to find a cure.
"Art can be used as a powerful statement to demonstrate something that is life-destroying and each of these artists have taken their own angle on the theme and produced an outstanding body of work."
Alex Smith, founder of Harrison’s Fund said he has been "blown away" by the couple’s commitment to the charity.
Alex Smith, Barry Martin, Samir Ceric and Nick Taussig
‘When Boys Become Men’ Exhibition, December 4 to January 31 2015, at Debut Contemporary Gallery in Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill. For more information click here.
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