OB Head Boy, Jed Thirkettle (School House, 2018) 

Growing up I was always slower, weaker and less physically developed than my peers. The doctors kept telling my parents that I would begin to catch up soon and that nothing was wrong but this wasn't the case. At the age of 8, I had a muscle biopsy, where we received the devastating news that I had Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy. The prognosis? I'd need a wheelchair within the next few years, I'd be on a ventilator by 14 and I'd be lucky to make it past 20.​

​From that point forward... Team Jed was born.

​Friends, family and groups of individuals from all over came together to raise money for Team Jed - a fund dedicated solely to raising money for research into Muscular Dystrophy. As a collective, we have raised over £250,000 and don't plan on stopping until those after us can live a life without physical limitations.

To mark 24 years of life, on the 4/5th November 2023 I will be working out for 24 hours straight whilst raising money and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy (not so clever now that the reality of this event has set in!).

Exercise has been a massive part of my life - it has helped keep me fit, mobile and healthy, both physically and mentally. It is not something I have the luxury of avoiding, but luckily I have grown to absolutely love going to the gym day-in-day-out for the past 9 years (the first 14 years of life were spent absolutely despising physiotherapy!)

I am very fortunate that I am still mobile enough to exercise, but this is not the case for most people living with Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, and many other muscle-wasting conditions. Out of pure appreciation for my cicumstances, I wanted to use this freedom that I enjoy in the best way possible... Fighting to raise money for those who are no longer able to.

If you would like to know more about Team Jed, click on this LINK