A Ballymena family have set out on an epic fundraiser to raise £18,000 to buy an all-terrain powered wheelchair to enable twelve year old adventurous Ethan McClean, who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), to live life to the fullest.
Ethan was diagnosed with the terminal life limiting illness as a baby, at the age of eighteen months old.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a muscle wasting disorder that wastes the muscles away. By the age of approximately 10, Ethan was required to utilise a manual wheelchair full-time due to the loss of power in his legs and, by early teens, Ethan will require the use of a powered wheelchair due to the loss of power in his arm muscles. Ethan's life expectancy is currently mid to late teens.
Sadly, there is currently there is no cure or treatment for DMD, and the condition is 100% fatal.
The McClean family, otherwise known as Team McClean, is made up of Mum Yvette, Dad Andy, Ethan's sister Amie and the main superhero himself Ethan.
Ethan has a massive love of Ice Hockey, and of course his number one team is the Belfast Giants, where he can be found at nearly every home came cheering on the team from the supporters corner. He also likes the NHL team the Pittsburgh Penguins. He loves Captain America, the Atlanta Gladiators, Sidney Crosby and all things Marvel. He loves cars - even though it's likely he will never drive one - his favourite is a red Ferrari!
Ethan has a specialist running chair that he uses to participate in various running races, enjoying the fresh air!
“He has the biggest smile and the most honest personality for a child. He is such a character bringing a smile to most people he meets.”
Commenting on the family’s fundraiser for Ethan, sister Amie said:
“My little brother Ethan absolutely loves walks in the forest and the beach. Unfortunately for him this means he loses his independence as he has to be pushed around in his manual wheelchair. I want to give him this independence back by buying him a new all-terrain wheelchair that will allow him to go onto the beach and enjoy walking trails without having to be pushed around by someone else.
“I want Ethan to be able to enjoy as much time as he can in as many different environments as we can get him into, before Duchenne claims his short life.”
Amie continued: “Being a huge hockey fan, Ethan has already visited a few of the top clubs and has met a number of the top players, including his personal idol, Sidney Crosby!
“The last couple of years have been extremely tough on my little brother Ethan, not only because of Covid and not being able to travel for hockey, but also because he has totally lost the power in his legs.”
Amie and all the McClean family would be very grateful if you can help their fundraising in anyway. Amie concluded:
“Any help or support I can get is one small step closer to my goal of showing my little brother that just because he can’t walk anymore, does not mean he can’t still go to all the places he used to love!”
If you would like to support the epic drive toward £18,000, and to follow Ethan and Team McClean, please visit the links below:
• DONATE:
• FACEBOOK GROUP TEAM McCLEAN:
‘In the end it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.’
