East Malling dad walking from London Bridge to Canterbury Cathedral for son who has muscle wasting condition
14:05, 02 October 2020
updated: 14:07, 02 October 2020
A dad is trekking from London Bridge to Canterbury Cathedral to raise funds for his son, who has a muscle-wasting condition.
Steve Jarrett, from East Malling , along with two friends and a nephew, have already raised more than £3000 through their walk, in order to give Steve's little boy Ralphy, seven, the best possible life, as he battles with duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The group are travelling more than 76 miles over three days, camping during the nights and, as much as possible, following the original route undertaken by pilgrims for hundreds of years.
They set off yesterday morning and plan to finish at the cathedral tomorrow.
Ralphy, who has an older sister, nine, and a younger brother, two, was diagnosed with duchenne duscular dystrophy, which sees progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, at four-years-old.
People with the condition will usually only live into their 20s or 30s and Ralphy's family are determined to make as many precious memories as they can.
In the past, Steve, 37, a warehouse worker and his friends have taken part in challenges, such as racing up Mount Snowdon, to raise cash for a trip to Crete with Ralphy's grandparents and pay for youngster, who uses a wheelchair, to feed giraffes at the zoo.
Steve said: "Within the last six months he's nearly lost the ability to walk. He was getting himself around before but now he can't do stairs or get himself up from the floor.
"But it doesn't stop him, he tries his hardest to do whatever he needs to do. He's always got a smile on his face, he's a really happy little boy."
Mum Lily, 28, is a mobile hairdresser but has dropped down to one day a week in order to care for Ralphy.
The pair are hoping on moving homes and then putting in moderations to their new house, with a downstairs wet room and bathroom for Ralphy, to make his life easier.
At the top of their list is also an electric wheelchair, which is not funded by the NHS.
Currently, the seven-year-old has to be pushed in his wheelchair if he wants to go outside, or play with his siblings, as he arms aren't long enough to propel himself.
The Jarrett's hope an electric wheelchair will give him more independence.
