Perthshire contractors embark on cross-UK bike relay to raise cash for Caitlin's rare sight loss condition

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Precious daughter Caitlin (8) is one of just seven Scots youngsters suffering from a little-known condition which threatens to snatch away their sight before the teenage years.Now doting parents Liam and Ashley Wilkie are pushing ahead with the second phase of a remarkable fundraising campaign which has already topped the £100,000 mark, for research into the genetic condition Bardet Biedl Syndrome.Symptoms include heart and kidney failure, obesity, learning difficulties and sight loss, usually by the teenage years.An ambitious ‘Carry the Gene Challenge’ will see family, friends and business contacts supporting a relay spread over 12 legs from John O’Groats on April 18 to the Borders south of Melrose.After the festive season excesses, a clutch of Liam’s Perth-based colleagues with civil engineering contractors Kilmac are gearing up to join in.Huntingtower-based Lawrence O’Brien (37), whose groundworks and plant specialists O’Brien and Sons have been hooked-up with Kilmac for the past 18 years, hadn’t heard of BBS until Caitlin (8) became the first ever child to be diagnosed with the condition at Ninewells Infirmary five years ago.“I met Liam through work and we became good pals,” explained Lawrence.“Kilmac are a tight knit team and are very supportive of Liam and Ashley.

When they came up with this latest fundraising plan, I was always going to sign up. The family are such genuine, nice people.“Caitlin goes to clinics at Great Ormond Street every year and gene therapy and human trials are now set for 2024.“Anything we can do to help Caitlin even a little bit has to be worthwhile.

When it is so close to home obviously you go the extra mile to help.”The Carry the Gene Challenge stages offer cycling, running and walking