Superheroes of rugby doing loony dook for Cooper

KIRKCALDY Rugby Club will be braving the freezing waters of the Forth this New Year to help a boy with a very rare form of dwarfism.

The club is taking on the loony dook to raise funds for three-yearold Cooper Provan, one of just 100 children worldwide to be born with terminal condition rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP).

Cooper is severely disabled and unable to communicate, and needs specially adapted equipment.

A crowdfunder has been set up in support of the family’s needs and has already raised more than half of the £2,800 target.

Cooper’s dad Mikey, 32, said: “The condition is very rare. There are 100 cases known worldwide. I think there’s one in England and the rest are in America, as well as one in Iran.

“We’ve had most of our help from a Facebook group for all the families who are affected. There are people whose kids are older and they’ve been through everything.”

When Cooper was six months old, parents Mikey and Sammy, 29, were told it was unlikely he would see his second birthday. However, at three years old he is continuing to fight on.

The faulty gene which causes RCDP was discovered by Dr Nancy Braverman, who is based at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada. As well as furthering research, Dr Braverman has been helping to support families affected by the condition.

Mikey added: “We sometimes Skype Dr Braverman. She also runs a get-together for families every year in America, but that would be too far to travel with Cooper.”

Kirkcaldy Rugby Club got involved after first team member Owen Bonner, 21, babysat Cooper. The members will be in superhero fancy dress for the loony dook.