Army Major Chris Brannigan has completed a grueling challenge to raise funds for gene therapy research into his daughter’s rare genetic condition. Brannigan and 12 colleagues pushed a 3-tonne Land Rover for 24 hours, covering a total of 74 miles, in aid of Hope for Hasti. Brannigan’s daughter was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) last year. CdLS, for which no cure or treatment currently exists, can cause growth restriction, anxiety, and seizures. The fundraiser was set up in 2020 to raise research funds and awareness for the condition.
This is not the first challenge Brannigan has undertaken for a charitable cause since learning about his daughter’s condition. Last year, he walked barefoot 700 miles from Land’s End to Edinburgh and was rewarded with the 2020 ITV Pride of Britain fundraiser Award. Brannigan’s colleague came up with the push-a-Land-Rover challenge idea, thinking Brannigan’s previous undertakings were “tame.” Brannigan welcomed the help this time around, as pushing the Land Rover alongside his team felt more manageable than approaching the task alone.
Brannigan acknowledged the fundraising burden’s difficulty and impact on his family life, praising the support of the “armed forces family.” However, he suggested that the NHS should provide solutions to rare conditions such as CdLS, as families already devote “so much of their time” to children with rare conditions. CdLS is a rare genetic disorder caused by a genetic mutation and affects an estimated 1 in every 10,000 to 50,000 births.
While raising funds and awareness has been challenging, Brannigan plans to continue his fundraising efforts. He appreciates the support of total strangers wanting to help his family and has expressed gratitude towards the “heart-warming” response from donors
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More