Eastbourne boy, 2, with rare disease to take part in charity danceathon

Lucas Teese was recently diagnosed with an ‘incredibly rare’ type of muscular dystrophy – for which there is no current cure.

Despite this, his mum Emily Teese said he is ‘courageous and determined’.

On Friday (September 6), Lucas is set to take part in a ‘ danceathon’ with staff at Early Birds Pre-School in Seaford to raise funds for charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.

He has already raised more than £1,000.

Ms Teese said: “When Lucas was born, we knew he was so incredibly special and our lives became centred around him, adapting as we went, but we did not know why.

"Now we do and it is a sad conclusion, devastating for any family.

"We must have hope and support Muscle Dystrophy UK in finding a cure.”

Lucas has a diagnosis of Becker Muscular Dystrophy, but presents with symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which is caused by different mutations in the same gene.

The ‘typical symptoms’ of DMD are loss of ambulation by the age of 12 and a shortened life expectancy. According to the Muscular Dystrophy Assosciation, only a few DMD patients survive beyond the third decade.

In his day-to-day life, Lucas is an ‘active and happy little boy’. However, he requires ‘constant’ supervision and suffers frequent falls due to struggles with mobility.

Ms Teese added: “Lucas is endearing and everyone that comes into contact with [him] smiles and stops to speak to him.

"He is developing well, more recently, and we can see his cheeky little personality coming through, being a typical two-year-old.”

For more information about the fundraiser, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/emily-teese-1724845263742.