(Image: Supplied)
Friends are joining forces to take on a gruelling challenge for a York boy preparing to undergo life-saving open-heart surgery.
Lucas Thompson, one, lives with neonatal Marfan, a rare genetic condition which affects the body’s connective tissues.
The condition affects almost every part of Lucas’s body, including his heart, meaning he must undergo open-heart surgery within the coming weeks.
Liam Barrett and John Verity, who are friends of the family, will scale Yorkshire’s Three Peaks on Saturday (October 17), raising money for Lucas’s ongoing medical care and to support his family.
The pair, who both work at York-based waste management companies Business Waste and Divert, aim to walk up Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.
The challenge consists of a 24-mile walk climbing more than 1,500 metres.
John Verity (Image: Supplied)
Liam said Lucas’s parents, Sam, a paramedic, and Emma, a teacher, are “both great friends of mine, and I have seen first-hand how difficult it has been to live with Lucas’s condition.”
“They are both hardworking, kind and generous people who spend their working time helping and caring for others.
“At home, the family has had a lot to deal with, and we just want to be able to make life a little easier for them.”
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John said the money raised will go a “long way towards allowing Sam, Emma and their beautiful family to spend more quality time together and help to ease the pressure of the financial needs of Lucas’s condition.”
“Just as importantly, we also want to raise awareness of Marfan syndrome and what families living with this condition have to go through.
“We’ve had some really generous donations already, and can’t wait to see what the total will be.”
Liam Barrett (Image: Supplied)
John added that Sam and Emma “spend their working lives caring for others.”
“Lucas’s medical condition means they have also spent much of their personal time travelling for appointments and dealing with the emotional strain. It has been an incredibly worrying and emotional time for the whole family.”
Liam and John hope the money raised can also contribute to family days out for Sam and Emma with Lucas and their other child Rosie.
They said the Thompson family also needs help to support the costs that come with Lucas’s ongoing medical care, which includes travelling and time off work.
To support the fundraiser, visit the JustGiving page titled: “I'm raising £5,000 to help Lucas and his family.”