Article for the Lion                                                                   Dated 15 Feb 07

 

 

The BFC team known as the Sahara Seven have been hard at training running up and down every inch of Cyprus in an effort to raise fitness and sponsorship for their upcoming participation in the 22nd Marathon Des Sables. To date they have raised a staggering 27,000.00 for SSAFA and other charities.

 

However personal tragedy struck recently after the birth of Baby Brida to team member and RAF Police Dog Handler, Cpl ‘Damo’ Heartford. Damo; who was posted last year to RAF Lyneham and his and wife; Stacey, were blessed on the 25th of January 2007 with the arrival of baby ‘Brida’, immediately Doctors diagnosed Brida as having the rare genetic condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), in which the skin and internal body linings blister at the slightest knock or rub, causing painful, open wounds. This condition is likely to affect 1 in 17,000 live births and it is estimated that there are currently 5,000 people with the condition in the UK. Because EB is an inherited condition (it cannot be caught), which is passed on genetically from parents to children, first time parents often do not know that they are carriers and will have no prior warning that the child will be affected, until birth.

There are varying degrees of EB the more severe types have an exceptionally high risk of developing skin cancers, shortening their lives by approximately 30-40 years. In its most severe form, the condition is fatal in infancy.

Brida has the most sever type and the Doctors have indicated that the prognosis for this beautiful and delicate child is extremely poor. She is currently receiving assistance and professional care provided by the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association ‘DebRA’, this worthy charity will give Brida and her parents some measure of comfort during her remaining time. 

As a measure of the resilience and determination of Cpl Heartford, he has agreed to continue as a team member of the ‘Sahara Seven’, in response the team have set up a charity website specifically for Brida at www.justgiving.com/babybrida , and have stated that in the remaining 5 weeks prior to their departure on the Marathon Des Sables they will concentrate their entire efforts on raising sponsorship for ‘DebRA’.

Sahara Seven Team OIC, Sgt Max Tate stated “Many local readers will remember Damo and Stacey from either their places of work or socialising with them, they are strong good-natured people, not deserving of this terrible ordeal. If anyone would like to demonstrate their solidarity and support this excellent charity please make an online donation at the just giving site, if we can give but a little relief to Brida and her parents suffering, then we can will have achieved a great deal”.