Brave steps of the Barefoot Soldier
IT MAY equate to a small line on a map of the Midlands, but for Major Chris Brannigan, in bare feet and with a military Bergen strapped to his back, its 14-mile length was a marathon of its own.
The so-called Barefoot Soldier was making his way, one painful step at a time, towards Yorkshire as part of a trek from Land’s End to Edinburgh to fund research into the rare genetic condition that afflicts his daughter.
Eight-year-old Hasti
Brannigan was born with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, which causes seizures and severe anxiety and has no cure or treatment. But she was diagnosed with the condition only two years ago.
Her father hopes his 700mile walk, which is now in its third week, will raise £400,000 towards an eventual goal of £2.5m. After the first 300 miles of the trek, donations had reached £140,000.
Tuesday’s leg, stretching from Grantham in Lincolnshire to RAF Syerston, near Newark, was a molehill on the mountain he has yet to climb, and with his yellow collection bucket under his right arm, he took it in his stride.
After setting off this morning, Maj Brannigan is due arrive in Ollerton, to the south of Worksop, before crossing the border into Yorkshire tomorrow, en route to Doncaster.
It’s what any parent would do to ensure the best for their child. Chris Brannigan, who is raising funds for research into his daughter’s genetic condition.
Along the route he has been supported by civic leaders, members of the Armed Forces and the public, all willing him on for an adventure that has seen well-wishers turning out on to the streets sometimes in their hundreds.
“It’s what any parent would do to ensure the best for their child,” said Maj Brannigan, who is aged 40 and based at Tidworth Barracks in Wiltshire.
He added: “We won’t stop fighting for a better future for those affected.”
The handicap of walking barefoot had taken its toll, and at one point he resorted to crutches.
But he said: “When the pain and exhaustion gets too much and I want to give up, I just remember why I’m doing this.
“This is both the best and worst thing I have ever done – nothing could have prepared me.
“Every painful step barefoot and every donation, no matter how small, hopefully means we are a step closer to funding research into treatments.”
He and Hasti’s mother, Hengameh, do not know how her condition will manifest itself in years to come. She is one of only about 400 people to have been diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.
Mrs Brannigan, who is an IT worker at the British Council, said: “It was so hard knowing something was wrong, but not receiving a diagnosis for so long – when we found out there was no treatment our hearts broke.
“We just want Hasti to be able to have the opportunities all other children have.”
The family is urging the Government to review the National Framework for Rare Disease, and to invest in research and earlier diagnosis to give hope to people affected. A petition, which Maj Brannigan delivered to Downing Street as he walked through London, was signed 11,000 times in two days.
“The support we’ve received so far has been incredible, but we know can’t do it on our own,” he said.
His daughter has said she wants to be a dancer and a chef when she grows up.
Sadly, medical experts have confirmed that it is rare for children with her condition to go on to lead independent lives.