Family appeal for brave Ollie to meet pop star Ed
THE family of a boy with a terminal disease have launched an online appeal for him to meet pop star Ed Sheeran.
Ollie Carroll, five, has Batten Disease, a rare and degenerative condition which will rob him of his speech, sight and even the ability to walk and eat as he gets older.
Tragically Ollie, from Poynton, is unlikely to survive past 12 years old.
His family, which includes mum Lucy and dad Mike, have created a wish list to give Ollie the best life they possibly can.
At the top of that list if meeting his idol Ed Sheeran, who plays two shows in Manchester in April.
They have launched a social media appeal – #olliesheeran – which includes a touching video montage of Ollie singing along to Sheeran over the last two years.
It features Ollie’s sister Amelia, three, who has also been diagnosed with Battens, and a tender moment when she leans over and kisses her brother while Sheeran’s ballad Thinking Out Loud plays in the background.
Mum Lucy said: “Since Ollie was a tiny toddler, he was singing and dancing to Ed Sheeran’s songs around the house and every time we got in the car.
“Ollie can’t sing anymore, Batten Disease has taken that from him. But he still listens to Ed Sheeran all the time.
“We have so many memories from birthday parties to holding Ollie in his hospital bed with Ed playing in the background.
“It would be incredible if we could tick off this part of Ollie’s wish list.”
After learning of Ollie and Amelia’s devastating diagnosis in 2015, his family and friends have rallied in support. They set up Ollie’s Army, a campaign which aims to spread awareness of the rare disease and raises funds to buy specialist equipment as well as to fund future research into Batten Disease.
The campaign has been back by celebrities and sports stars.
In October, Ollie made international headlines when he hugged Prince Harry at the WellChild Awards, which honour young children and their carers.
Since then, Ollie’s family have been given some hope at treatment to slow down the disease.
He has been selected, along with Amelia, to be part of a drugs trial using enzyme therapy which requires the family to take fortnightly trips to Great Ormond Street in London for the treatment.