Team Albi - Kenya Trek for Epidermolysis Bullosa

Team Albi , Mark, Ceri and Cara are fundraising for DEBRA – The Butterfly Skin Charity. We have chosen this charity as it is close to our hearts. Our Daughter Erin & Partner Calum gave birth to their beautiful baby boy, Albi Ward-Blackman in August 2023.
 
Albi was born with Severe Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB - GS). This is an extremely rare and incredibly painful genetic skin disease; The slightest knock or friction caused by normal everyday activities will cause the skin to blister and/or shear. EB effects Albi both internally and externally meaning blisters also form on his eyes, mouth and oesophagus. Without a cure those with severe forms of EB are at a high risk of developing a aggressive form of skin cancer - Squamous cell carcinoma (typically in their 20s) which is usually fatal. Being such a rare genetic disease raising awareness and helping to fund research and trials is critical to #StopThePain that Albi and others born with EB live with every day.
 
To help raise awareness and money for this amazing charity, the three of us will be completing a 5 day trek through Kenya this October (2024); we will be walking along the Great Rift Valley which runs the whole length of Kenya. We will be trekking up to 7 hours each day, this is going to be a real challenge and completely out of our comfort zones. To ensure we are prepared we are starting our training this month (February 2024). We are joining another incredible Charity – Velindre Cancer Centre on our trek through Kenya and are really look forward to completing this challenge together.
 
This will be a self-funded trip, meaning every penny that we raise will be going directly to DEBRA – The Butterfly Skin Charity. The money raised will massively help DEBRA to continue accelerating their drug repurposing programme, fund life-changing treatments and provide vital community support and healthcare to the EB community who suffer daily from this dreadful condition. 
 
In the lead up to the Kenya trek, we will also be organising other events such as a Charity Ball. We also look forward to participating in a Sky Dive organised by Tracy . Please keep your eyes peeled for our fundraising events throughout the year and when we list our sky dive participants.
 
As a family, we are so grateful for any support you can give us; every Like, Share, Sponsor or penny donated makes a huge difference, and will help Albi and all those that suffering with this disease on a daily basis. We must #StopThePain by finding a cure for EB.