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Soldier Pulls Land Rover 100km for Rare Brain Disease
21 Oct
Summary
- Ex-soldier pulls 1.5-tonne Land Rover for 100 kilometres.
- Challenge aims to raise £100,000 for rare pediatric brain disease research.
- Funds will support treatment development and safer delivery methods.
Darren Hardy, an extreme athlete and former British soldier, has completed a remarkable challenge by pulling a 1.5-tonne Land Rover over 100 kilometers in 100 hours. This demanding feat was executed to raise £100,000 for the H-ABC Foundation and SynaptixBio, a UK biotechnology firm working on a potential treatment for H-ABC, a rare and progressive genetic brain disease.
The funds generated are crucial for advancing research into H-ABC, a severe form of TUBB4a leukodystrophy for which there is no cure. Hardy's personal motivation stems from the story of Aggie Candy-Waters, a 17-year-old affected by the condition. His efforts aim to make treatment more accessible and develop safer delivery methods, potentially moving from direct cerebrospinal fluid injection to intravenous administration.
SynaptixBio's potential treatment, SB H-19642, has shown promise in preclinical studies. The company has received significant backing, including a £2 million grant from Innovate UK and Rare Paediatric Disease Designations from the US FDA. Hardy's previous charitable endeavors have already raised over £120,000, with this challenge further contributing to the cause.
