A Dubai dream for VHL warrior
Jet setter Jack takes on tallest building
A teen suffering from a rare condition has reached new heights thanks to kind fundraisers who helped get him to his dream destination.
Jet setter Jack Offord, from Darvel, trekked up the tallest building in the world as he visited Dubai earlier this year.
But the 16- year- old is no ordinary youngster as he and his family live with Von Hippel- Lindau syndrome ( VHL) – a condition which causes tumours to grow continuously ntinuously on multiple organs.
VHL affects around und 2000 people in the UK and sadly there is no known cure.
Those with the condition are also at an increased risk of f developing a type of f kidney and pancreatic c cancer.
And Jack has sadly ly lost sight in his left eye. e.
But nothing would ld dampen the Loudoun un Academy pupil’s l ’ s excitement as he got t to experience his dream am holiday in September ber with Gran Sandra ‘ Doo’ Thomson by his side. .
Jack said: “I felt excited cited about going to Dubai ai as I didn’t think I would ever get to see it.
“I was also a wee ee bit nervous because I didn’t
know what to expect. My favourite part was going on the sand dunes camel safari.
“I will never forget that experience in my life.
“Also going up the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa – with Doo ( gran Sandra Thomson) was awesome.”
Jack admitted his dream country was “much different” from his surroundings back home in Ayrshire.
The teen said: “The buildings, cars and style of everyday life was much cooler than home.
“We had a chauffeur who drove us around Dubai and took us to a palace.
“The weather was the hottest I’ve ever felt – although it did really hurt my eye so had to take my drops every hour or so.
Jack was diagnosed with VHL at just five- years- old.
His mum Linzie, 36, was diagnosed when she was 25 and unknowingly passed it along to her three children. ch
Jack’s sister Cerys was three yearsold when doctors detected VHL and brother Arran was only seven- weeks- w old.
And with w the average age of diagnosis diagnos being 32- years- old, all four of t the Offords were unusual cases.
Jack said: “Its very important to raise awareness aw of VHL because before my mum was diagnosed we had ha never heard of it.
“It’s a rare disease that no one really knows about but it affects our li lives every single day.
“I hope h there is a cure found very soon because it’s sad what happ happens to us and other VHL warriors. warr
“I would like to thank all of my family and school friends; Ayrshire Ayr Warriors football team; tea Glasgow Together team and an Lanarkshire United. “And to Caledonia Vehicle Solutions So for all their help and an providing football kits. “Thank you to every person who donated to my justgiving page and sponsored our events and donated prizes.
“If it wasn’t for all the kindness everyone has shown – my dream might not have happened.
“We can’t thank you all enough.” Aunty Michelle Thomson, from Ayr, has been at the forefront of fundraising for the family and raising more awareness of their condition.
She has organised events like race nights and charity football matches, and will be back in March with more footy fun to help more families affected by VHL.
Michelle said: “Just over a year ago I made it my mission to send our nephew on his dream trip due to some bad news with battling VHL.
“Myself and my dad got a group of boys together to play an Ayr vs Glasgow charity football match- this was only meant to be a one off.
“We decided to keep it going and started a charity football league which now has four teams.
“I can’t thank everyone enough who has got involved.
“They are all heros in my eyes for making Jack’ s d ream come true.”