Terminally ill Scottish youngster, 5, defies odds with gruelling obstacle course

A terminally ill Scottish youngster has defied all odds by completing a gruelling obstacle course for charity despite being diagnosed with a muscle-wasting disease.

Brave little Jamie Tierney was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - which affects the lungs, heart and brain - at three-years-old but hasn't let the life-limiting condition get the better of him.

As the Record reports, Jamie wouldn't let anything stand in his way when he completed the MacTuff obstacle course on Sunday, May 12, raising an incredible £1512.

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Dad Jamie said: "We saw the challenge around six months ago and thought 'why not?' We don't want to look at what Jamie can't do, but instead focus on how we find a way to do it.

"With me and his mum by his side, we knew we could help him through it. We want Jamie to be able to experience everything we possibly can and keep him with a positive mindset.

"It was a good opportunity for us to try and raise some money for his treatment costs as well. We have recently been quoted $3.4 million for a treatment in the US which is a crazy amount of money.

"But it's something he needs to survive so we are trying to piece things together now to see if there's any possible way of achieving this sort of money."

Alongside his beaming mum and dad, Jamie completed the three-kilometre "treacherous" obstacle course and was spurred on by cheering friends and family.

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He continued: "It was a really enjoyable day for us all and just making Jamie feel special for what he completed was a great feeling.

"He loved the experience and was delighted to get his medal. All of his friends and family were all cheering him on."

The youngster has been abroad for treatment several times since he was diagnosed to try and slow the progress of the cruel disease down but will likely have difficulty jumping, running, and walking in years to come.

Jamie added: "Now Jamie has difficulty with stairs and hills but on flat surfaces he's fine. Gene Therapy is available now in America and we have been accepted but it requires us to have proof of funds.

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"He has a deletion of 45 to 54 in his gene which means his body doesn't receive any dystrophin. The gene therapy is a micro-dystrophin gene that could let his body produce dystrophin, allowing him to build muscles

"We have been going abroad for the last two years for stem cell treatment to try to slow the progress down the only treatment we have been offered through the NHS is steroids.

"Gene therapy could make a huge difference to his way of life."

Anyone who wishes to support the family can do so at either the Wee Jamie's Journey website, Wee Jamie's Journey social media pages or the GoFundMe page.