Gemma Owen praised by fans as she shares new charity role in honour of her brother

ok.co.uk:

Gemma Owen has been praised by fans and her social media followers after becoming an ambassador for a charity which funds research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease.

The Love Island star and daughter of football legend Michael Owen, 20, has taken up the position as a way to honour and support her brother, James, who was diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disease when he was just eight years old.

Gemma took to Instagram to reveal she has taken up a role as an ambassador for 'Fight for Sight' charity - as she has watched how sight loss has affected her brother.The reality star wants to work with the charity to "help raise funds and awareness" of James' condition, Stargardt Disease, and other eye conditions. "When my brother James was around eight-years-old he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Stargardt Disease.This condition progressively deteriorates vision from the macula and currently there is no cure or treatment," Gemma wrote on May 20. "Having closely witnessed how sight loss has affected him personally, I am honoured to announce that I am now an ambassador for Fight For Sight. "This UK charity is funding research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease and has a special place in all of my family's heart. "I’m looking forward to working with them to help raise funds and awareness for research and developments in treatments for people with Stargardt Disease and other conditions causing blindness." On the Fight for Sight website, a statement from the charity explains what it does.

It says: "As the national charity with a focus on pioneering eye research we know that research can unlock solutions and transform lives.