Tony Pearson is walking from Edinburgh to Glasgow to raise funds for SMA UK, supporting his daughter Grayce’s battle with a rare condition.
Edinburgh: Tony Pearson is gearing up for a big walk from Murrayfield in Edinburgh to Glasgow Green. He’s doing this on April 1 to raise £2000 for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) UK.
His daughter, Grayce, is turning two this month and was diagnosed with SMA type 2 last year. It’s been a tough journey for the family.
SMA is a condition that causes muscle weakness, and type 2 usually shows up in kids between six months and 18 months. Tony wants to help others by raising money for the charity that’s supported them since Grayce’s diagnosis.
He plans to start his walk at 5 am and hopes to reach Glasgow by 8 pm. He’s inviting anyone who wants to join him along the way. The more, the merrier!
Last year, he raised over £2000 in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk and even more through a charity raffle. He shared that during the last stretch of the Kiltwalk, a photo of Grayce in her SMA babygro kept him going.
Now, he’s determined to keep fundraising for her. Tony and his wife Carrie first noticed something was off when Grayce wasn’t moving her legs as much. After some visits to specialists, they got the diagnosis.
Since then, Grayce has been on a daily medication that’s helping her progress. She’s already using a standing frame and swimming regularly. Tony is thrilled to see her improvements and feels proud of her progress.
He and Carrie, who didn’t know they carried the gene for SMA, are now advocating for screening during pregnancy or for newborns. They want to help other families avoid the same struggles.
You can check out Tony’s fundraiser on Just Giving to support this important cause.
