Mark Reilly joins the Reverse Rett Team 

 

As Reverse Rett continues to grow and prepare for the next phase of its strategy, we are strengthening our team. 

Mark ‘Mavis’ Reilly wiill join us as our new Fundraising & Advocacy Manager, which will help us expand our reach and impact. 

Mark will be familiar to many of our families already due to the incredible fundraising he’s done for Reverse Rett since 2012, in honour of his daughter, Dionne who has Rett syndrome. 

These include the brutal Marathon Des Sables, described as the toughest footrace on earth and the Jungle Ultra, a 230k self-sufficient Ultra Marathon through the Amazon Rainforest in Peru where he finished in third place. 

Mark is also well known to Scottish Football fans after a stellar career where he played for a host of clubs, most notably Kilmarnock where he won the Scottish Cup in 1997 and was a losing finalist in the Scottish League Cup in 2001, he later auctioned off his medal through his Just Giving page in 2012 in aid of Reverse Rett. He was inducted into the Kilmarnock ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2024 and also won the Scottish Challenge Cup with St Mirren in 2005.,

Mark is also an author. He published his book, ‘The Lives of Reilly’ in 2023. The book details the life and football career of the 1997 Kilmarnock cup-winning hero and his family’s journey with Rett Syndrome, with proceeds benefiting Reverse Rett.

 You can get your copy from Nameless Town Books HERE

Mark has joined Reverse Rett from the charity, Justice and Care where his role was supporting victims of human trafficking through the judicial process in Scotland. 

Before embarking on his new position at Reverse Rett, Mark said: “I’m absolutely delighted and incredibly excited to be starting this new chapter working with Reverse Rett.  
 
What began as a deeply personal journey, driven by my daughter Dionne’s diagnosis, has grown into a passionate commitment to supporting this amazing charity. 
 
Fundraising has already shown me the power of awareness, connection, and hope, and I feel truly privileged to now play a more direct role in driving that mission forward.  
 
I’m full of enthusiasm for what lies ahead and determined to help make a meaningful difference for families like ours.” 

Reverse Rett Deputy CEO, Andy Stevenson said; “I first met Mavis in 2014 when we were both part of the Reverse Rett team in the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow. 

We quickly became friends and I’ve been amazed at the challenges he’s undertaken for our children over the years. The determination and commitment he has shown is exactly what we need at Reverse Rett as we edge closer to treatments. 

Mark also has the skills to help other families navigate their own Rett journey, he’s not just a crazy ultra-athlete, he has empathy in bucket loads and many years of ‘lived experience’ of Rett syndrome through his daughter, Dionne which will be invaluable when supporting parents. 

Having been an integral part of successful teams during his football career we are all delighted about him joining us at Reverse Rett and I’m confident about the impact he’s going to make to our mission. I can’t wait to start working alongside him.” 

Welcome to the team, Mavis 

Mark has twice been a guest on the Reverse Rett podcast which you can listen to HERE