00:00Conor Peebles, a father from Lobly Hill in Gateshead, is launching a major fundraiser after his two-year-old son
00:06was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder.
00:10Alfred has Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, or VEDS, a condition that causes fragile blood vessels and organs.
00:16So I found her in September, and I just felt like kind of the world stopped. Couldn't really cope myself,
00:27to be honest, but it was quite a fast switch up when, as soon as Alfred got diagnosed, I wanted
00:34to find a cure. I think that's my main goal.
00:37So it's a deficiency in collagen within the blood vessels and stuff. So it makes me susceptible to aneurysms, also
00:49ruptures. It can be fatal as well, if anything was to happen.
00:57So the knocks and bruises can cause internal bleeding and stuff, and that's how it can be fatal.
01:04My control now is that I'm actually raising as much money as I can to hopefully one day say that
01:11Alfred had VEDS.
01:15Conor, who also has VEDS, has been told to avoid heavy lifting and contact sport, but says giving up is
01:20not an option.
01:21With the support of his local gym, he's organising a cycling challenge to raise money for Annabelle's challenge, which funds
01:27research and supports families affected by the condition.
01:31So Africa for Alfred is happening on the 17th of April, and it's going to run all the way through
01:37the day, all the way through the night, up until the Sunday.
01:41So basically what the challenge is, is going from the southernmost tip of Africa to the north tip on a
01:48virtual bike ride.
01:50And it's to cover 8 million metres, and there's going to be absolutely everything going on, pony rides, a soft
01:58play, but if adults want to get involved, there's going to be cupcakes on sale.
02:05Everything you can think of, it's going to be an absolute rampart, and the charity is going to be there
02:08as well.
02:09So we chose Africa, because it was alliteration with Alfred.
02:13Oh, look at that.
02:15Mum.
02:16Mummy pig.
02:19Mummy pig.
02:20Choo.
02:21Choo.
02:24What's that, Arthur?
02:26The red car.
02:28It's a red car.
02:28It takes it in the bath.
02:30Yeah, takes it in the bath.
02:34Every day that we're blessed with Alfred, is an absolute godsend, really.
02:42And I just think that if we can, if we can just find a cure.
02:51I think the main message is that this is just the beginning, and I want to spend the rest of
02:56my life fighting for his.
02:57I think that from the young bodies.
02:58Awesome.
Comments