Teddy's Fundraiser

Fundraise for Teddy

Every parent knows the joy of their firstborn hitting milestones, like walking and talking– but for Lucy and Peter, it is something they may never experience.

“I felt kind of overwhelmed at first,’’ dad, Peter, said. “It took me a while to realise the gravity of it all. And then as he progressed in age, every milestone he missed really hit me in a different way.’’

Lucy and Peter’s two-year-old son Teddy is one of the faces of the 2023 Jeans for Genes campaign which raises funds for the vital work being done in the labs at Children’s Medical Research Institute. 

At five months old, Teddy was diagnosed with CTNNB1 syndrome, a genetic condition that occurs randomly and is not usually inherited. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder similar to cerebral palsy that has physical, mental, and emotional challenges. His parents were told that Teddy may never walk or talk.

“You just love your kids, no matter what. We had all the genetic testing you can get while you're pregnant, and I didn't plan to have a child with a disability, but it happened, and you just move on.

“He's a joy, and I don't really know any different than taking my son to therapy every day. It's just reality for us.’’