Emmerdale actress Laura Norton and partner, actor Mark Jordon, who are raising awareness of the condition Ushers Syndrome, which affects both of their young children.(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)

Emmerdale star opens her heart on incurable condition affecting her two young children

Emmerdale actress Laura Norton was joint with her partner, actor Mark Jordon, in her hometown of Newcastle ahead of The Cure Usher charity Ball this weekend

by · ChronicleLive

The region has come together to support a Newcastle born actress and her partner, who are spreading awareness of an incurable health condition both their children suffer from.

Emmerdale actress Laura Norton, was joined with her partner actor Mark Jordon, at The Baltic Gallery ahead of their charity ball, The Cure Usher Ball 2024, taking place on September 21 to help raise funds.

Laura and Mark, known for playing PC Bellamy in Heartbeat and most recently in ITV drama The Long Shadow, came to the difficult decision to announce last year that their two children have both been diagnosed with Ushers Syndrome - an incurable condition that affects hearing, vision and balance.

There are three main types of Usher Syndrome, each causing varying levels of health problems that can lead to deafness and hearing loss. The rare inherited condition affects around 4 to 17 in 100,000 people worldwide. Both of the couple's children are deaf and without a cure, it is possible they will also go blind.

Now Laura and Mark - who have become patrons and trustees of the charity Cure Usher - have launched a desperate fight to raise awareness and help secure funding to find a cure. Laura said: "The science is there, the knowledge is there, the funds however are not."

Mark Jordon and Laura Norton are presenting The Cure Usher Ball this weekend at the Hilton Hotel(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)

Speaking on Wednesday at The Baltic Centre for Contemporary art, the couple expressed their excitement to be in the city ahead of the charity ball this weekend. Laura told ChronicleLive: "We're trying to raise awareness on a big scale. Unfortunately our two children both have the condition Usher Syndrome which is something not of a lot of people are aware of.

"It is the leading cause of deafness and blindness combined are were doing everything we can to go on a campaign to raise awareness and more importantly raise funds for a cure and treatment is what we're striving for.

"The reason we're doing this ball is since becoming patrons and trustees we have found out that within this decade there is to be a cure, and treatment for vision loss for people living with Usher Syndrome, we just need the money so we can get that cure for them."

Mark added: "We want to make Usher Syndrome something that people are aware of so its not a shock for families being diagnosed with it, but also the more people are aware of it the more help we can get from pharmaceutical companies so we're on a really good start. It's very important and we want to make that change."

Following the major success of the inaugural Cure Usher Ball held in Manchester in 2023, it has been brought to Newcastle this year for the first time, and will be hosted by Steph McGovern, whilst Joe McElderry will perform the headline act.

"We have some very good sponsors that are based here so we had to bring the ball to Newcastle this year," Mark explained. "I'm getting a soft spot for Newcastle, its a wonderful place. We're really excited about the weekend and know that people will join in the march forward to raise awareness to bring funding into the research and this is an ideal place for that."

Geoff Moore, Managing Director of West Nautical. who are offering a prize at the Usher Ball(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)

Speaking of the Ball that will feature jaw dropping ‘money can’t buy’ celebrity filled auction prizes, Laura added: "It will be like a who's-who of Geordie royalty. It's bringing it to life, giving it a level of exposure you wouldn't normally of got for something like this and we're going to keep striving and we're so thankful for the unwavering support."

Multiple North East businesses from Tyne & Wear and Northumberland have already donating prizes supporting the charity ball event. Lead sponsors drinks company WATA and West Nautical have joint Laura and Mark in addressing how important it is to find a cure, whilst The Bespoke Clinic and South Shields Marine School have also sponsored tables.

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