Wallace High date for Calum
A Bannockburn boy with a rare genetic condition has started his first day of high school.
Calum McPherson (12) marked his first day of S1 at Wallace High last week.
Calum has been diagnosed with the CHAMP1 gene mutation.
It took seven years for non–verbal Calum to be diagnosed with the condition.
After taking part in a genetic testing study called DDD (Deciphering Developmental Disorders) Calum’s family were told in 2015 that he had the rare diagnosis of a mutation of the CHAMP1 gene.
There have only been 42 diagnoses of the condition worldwide, with four across the UK and only one in Scotland.
Following Calum’s first day of high school, mum Stacey said:“He has taken to it very well. He was ready for the change from primary school to high school. He loved it. He did amazing, he’s our wee superstar.”
Stacey has set up her own website dedicated to the condition, providing information and raising awareness. She is now attempting to raise funds to meet the running costs of maintaining the website, and is asking for £1 donations.
She said:“Our website is a point of contact for newly diagnosed families to reach out to the CHAMP community. We have running costs to enable the website to stay up and running. Some members of our community are hoping to use some of the funds to source materials that displays information on CHAMP1 for upcoming events.”
To donate visit www. justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/ champ1pound challenge?utm_id=119.