A six-year-old girl with a very rare life-limiting condition has launched a virtual festive campaign this Christmas.

Carmela Chillery-Watson, from Devizes, lives with a muscle-wasting condition called LMNA-CD. It means her muscles get weaker with every step she takes and each time she lifts her arms. Carmela is so weak that she can’t walk continuously for more than five minutes at a time because of poor muscle strength.

This Christmas, Carmela is asking for people to get involved with her #DecembellChallenge and share a video of yourself on social media completing 25 dumbbell reps before nominating three others to do the same, making sure the #Decembellchallenge is included.

Brave Carmela, who is unlikely to live until her 20th birthday, came up with the festive campaign herself to raise much-needed awareness of her condition, which affects just 50 people in the UK.

A video – shared on Carmela’s Instagram - shows her attempting to lift her own dumbbell, the weight clearly unbearable for her tiny arms as she declares it is “too hard”.

Carmela has nominated sports star and TV presenter Gabby Logan, Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot and David Beckham to join her #DecembellChallenge.

Dan McNally, Head of Regional Development at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “We encourage everyone far and wide to flex their muscles and get involved with Carmela’s #DecembellChallenge – the most festive the attempt, the better! Carmela is a brave and gutsy little girl and we are bowled over by her determination to keep going, even when times are tough.

"So, this December, please post a video of yourself on social media completing 25 dumbbell reps and nominating three others to do the same. Remember to use the hashtag #DecembellChallenge as you rep your way to raising more awareness of Carmela’s rare condition.”

Carmela's JustGiving page can be found here