Undie run to help sick kids

STRIPPING down to your undies and going for a jog in Cairns will have the power to change the lives of children.

The first-ever Cairns Cupid’s Undie Run next month will raise money for the Children’s Tumour Foundation of Australia, which works to help children diagnosed with genetic condition neurofibromatosis.

Bentley Park organiser Diana Hepworth said her son Darcy, 4, was living with the condition.

“The idea behind stripping down to your bare essentials is because the condition can be quite physically deforming, so for that brief time during the run we can feel what it’s like in their shoes,” she said.

The risks for children include having tumours grow on nerves, curvature of the spine and potential blindness.

“There are two genetic conditions that fall under neurofibromatosis,” Mrs Hepworth said. “Darcy has NF1. The signs and symptoms that he shows include brown birthmarks on his body – he’s probably got more than 30.

“He’s also got Lisch nodules, which is a birthmark on the coloured part of his eye.

“We have to see a lot of different health professionals annually to make sure there are no complications for him.”

The Cairns Cupid’s Undie Run will be held on Sunday, February 18 at 10am at the Esplanade. To register for or sponsor the event go to www. cupidsundierun.com.au

Picture: JUSTIN BRIERTY LIFE CHANGER: Gary Ryan, Sharee Webb, Justin Hodges and (front) Diana Hepworth with son Darcy, who has neurofibromatosis, practise for the Undies Run on February 18, where Diana and her family will strip down to raise money for children suffering from...