Taylor Swift shared a special message to a hero dad, who won a Pride of Britain award for walking 700 miles barefoot to fund research into his child's rare condition.
In a recorded message for the army major Chris Brannigan and his 8-year-old daughter, Hasti, Swift praised both for their work. "What you did fills me with so much admiration," she said, "you raised so much money for awareness and charity." Chris Brannigan raised more than £500,000 for research to find a cure for Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS); he more than surpassed his goal of £50,000 ($86,000).
| Taylor Swift making an appearance on the Pride Of Britain Awards, praising a solider and his daughter for their work: “What you did fills me with so much admiration. You raised so much money & awareness for charity.. I really hope that I get to meet you some day.” pic.twitter.com/bHGqmPBDIA — Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNewsLA) November 1, 2020
In 2018, Hasti was diagnosed with CdLS, which is a disorder characterized by seizures and severe anxiety and currently has no cure or treatment. "Hasti, you are amazing," Swift said, "You're so courageous, so inspirational." She added that she hopes to get to meet the girl someday. "You are the pride of Britain." Ore Oduba of "Strictly Come Dancing" presented Major Chris with the award.
The Barefoot Soldier
Major Brannigan, who is also dubbed The Barefoot Soldier, said he is really pleased and an amazing honor to receive the award. He said he was blown away as he had no idea he would win, but he hopes that it will help them highlight the story of children with diseases in the UK. He added that through their efforts, he wanted to give those families who, like them, are struggling in exactly the same position.
He said that they are still trying to raise another £2million for the Hope for Hasti fundraising campaign. And once the first-ever gene therapy for CdLS gets created, clinical trials, which will also need funding, will be given to the kids who actually need the therapy.
Talking to BBC in July, Major Brannigan, after being deployed on operations twice before, considers this effort as his third tour of duty - fighting to create a treatment for Hasti and other children with a similar condition.
Over 35 days, he walked from Land's End to Edinburgh with no shoes beginning on July 6 and concluding it on August 12, 2020. He carried a 25kg kit that contained everything he needed, including a tent to sleep in. Hasti joined him halfway through his walk as they dropped off a petition at Downing Street to ask for more support for children suffering from rare diseases.
Major Brannigan said that the most challenging part of the trek was the mental side of it. Added to that was that he had to keep walking despite the open wounds, infections, and the injury, as well as the weather.
About Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS)
According to the CdLS Foundation, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome is a genetic disorder present from birth and is usually inherited. Signs of CdLS may be observed from birth and even prenatally for some. However, milder CdLS may only be diagnosed when the child is older.
