Surrey Family Completes 120 km Walk to Fundraise for Son’s Gene Therapy
B.C. family walks 120 km to raise money, awareness for son’s gene therapy
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A family from Surrey, British Columbia, walked 120 km to the B.C. legislature to raise funds and awareness for their son Gurmoh's rare neurodegenerative disorder, Spastic Paraplegia Type 4. The estimated cost for gene therapy treatment is $8 million, and they aim to draw attention from health officials.
- 01Gurmoh Gill, aged three, was diagnosed with Spastic Paraplegia Type 4, a rare neurodegenerative disorder affecting mobility.
- 02The family walked from Downtown Vancouver to Victoria, covering 120 km to raise awareness and funds.
- 03Researchers at McGill University are developing a gene therapy for Gurmoh's condition, with treatment costs expected to reach $8 million.
- 04B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne acknowledged the family's efforts but stated there are no immediate updates on funding for experimental therapies.
- 05The Gill family hopes their walk will expedite the process of obtaining treatment for their son.
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The Gill family from Surrey, British Columbia, recently completed a 120 km walk from Downtown Vancouver to the B.C. legislature in Victoria to raise funds and awareness for their son Gurmoh, who suffers from Spastic Paraplegia Type 4, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. Gurmoh, now three years old, began showing mobility issues at age one and was diagnosed at three. He is believed to be the only case in Canada. The family aims to raise $8 million for gene therapy treatment, which is being developed by researchers at McGill University. Despite the physical challenges of the walk, including blisters and cramps, Navpreet Gill expressed that the pain was overshadowed by their hope for Gurmoh's treatment. B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne met with the Gill family and acknowledged the ongoing research but indicated that there are no immediate updates on funding for such experimental therapies. The family’s initiative seeks to highlight the urgent need for financial support and to bring attention to Gurmoh's condition.
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The family's fundraising efforts aim to support the development of a gene therapy that could potentially benefit Gurmoh and others with similar conditions.
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