Boy with rare kidney disease walks for charity

2 hours ago

Shariqua AhmedPeterborough

Sammy said the walk with her son Caelan, who has Dent's disease, was "emotional"

Supplied Sammy, a woman with shoulder length dark brown hair, with Caelan, a boy wearing a purple T-shirt and woolly hat. They are on their walk at Ferry Meadows in Peterborough. — Sammy said the walk with her son Caelan, who has Dent's disease, was "emotional"

A 10-year-old boy living with a rare genetic kidney disease took part in a five-mile (8km) fundraising walk on Saturday.

Caelan was joined by his family and friends at Kidney Research UK's Peterborough March March, at Ferry Meadows.

He was diagnosed with Dent's disease, a rare inherited condition, two years ago. His family said there was no cure to stop it, but they hoped to slow it down to protect his kidney function.

His mother Sammy said the walk was "emotional".

"It is nice that everyone's turned up to raise money - especially for Caelan, as we don't know what's ahead for him and his kidneys," she said.

"Hopefully research will help his and other people's futures."

At the walk, the family raised about £900 for the Peterborough-based kidney charity.

Earlier in the year, Caelan also organised a non-uniform day at school and created a poster about kidney disease, helping to raise hundreds of pounds.

Caelan was "a typical lad who enjoys playing with friends", said his mother Sammy

Kidney Research UK A selfie of Caelan and Sammy, who are wearing purple T-shirts and are smiling at the camera. Caelan has short dark hair while his mother has long dark hair. — Caelan was "a typical lad who enjoys playing with friends", said his mother Sammy

Sammy said Dent's disease was discovered in her son after blood and protein were found in his urine.

Both of Caelan's uncles also live with the condition and they needed kidney transplants in their late 30s.

The family hope that by supporting research it will lead to better treatments.

"It's such a rare disease and all we can compare it to is what has happened to my brothers," said Sammy.

"Unless there are advances in research, it will probably be the same story, and that's very upsetting to think about."

Caelan said: "It has been scary having to spend time in hospital and I am worried about what's to come.

"Seeing my uncles going through it has been very hard. I hope I can protect my kidneys so I can continue to play football for as long as possible, but I do get tired more than I used to."

Caelan is among an estimated 90,000 people in the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire area living with kidney disease, Kidney Research UK said.

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