Glasgow dad to climb Ben Nevis for daughter with rare muscle condition
Tony Pearson is hopeful more people will learn about SMA after a former Little Mix star recently spoke out about it.
A Glasgow dad is set to climb Ben Nevis with a group of other men for his daughter who lives with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Tony Pearson and his wife Carrie were told little Grayce had the condition less than two years ago and have been campaigning for more awareness ever since.
He said: "We noticed with Grayce she wasn't attempting to crawl or would fall over when trying to sit up.
"She wasn't reaching out to grab things either and the health visitors kept telling us everything was fine and kids develop at different paces."
Since the diagnosis in 2024, the family has fought hard for a test to be introduced straight from birth with the charity SMA UK.
From the spring, babies in Scotland will now be tested for the condition as part of the standard baby heel prick test.
Tony added: "Once they're diagnosed they can have gene therapy which should mean they show little to no symptoms of SMA.
"It will save the government thousands of pounds in treatment and medicaiton, it really is a no brainer and will save lives."
Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson recently revealed her baby daughters have type 1 SMA and may never walk.
Tony says he hopes the climb with other dads with children who've got the condition will encourage the Westminster government to introduce the same test in England.
He added: "The fact it has taken a celebrity to come out and speak about this for the media to jump on it is heartbreaking for the parents who've been campaigning for years.
"Some of those parents' kids have died when they've been campaigning and never got anywhere, it's terrible.
"We now need more fight."
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