Serious allergy threat prompts teen action

PUPILS of Lord Williams’s Upper School in Thame, have been compelled to act following the plight of Nathanael Armstrong, a fellow student who could die unless he receives the right treatment. The team of teens are carrying out multiple fundraising events to raise money towards his treatment that is costing £1,700 per week.

Chloe Morris in full cake-selling mode, raising funds for her friend, Nat Armstrong

Rachael Bancroft, Jessica Lynch, Daniel Kovac and a group of Nat’s friends organised a ‘wakeover’ (staying awake all night) on April 15, to raise more money to help towards his treatment.

Chloe Morris, a Year 11 pupil at Lord William’s School and friend of Nat’s, raised £132.75 through a cake sale held on Saturday, March 29, in the Cooperative store in Thame. “People have been so generous and supportive,” said Chloe. “It’s also great that the Co-op allowed us to carry out the sale in their store.” The cake sale is just one of many fund raising activities for Nat. Natalie Watson is shaving her hair off, while others dare walking, jumping, swimming and carrying out extreme activities, like Genny Stephenson who will be sky diving to help raise money.

Nat himself has been very moved by the support he is receiving. He said: “I’m finding it difficult to tell people how much it all means to me; it’s not just the money, but caring. That’s what really matters. The money thing worries me, because I don’t want my Nanna and Granddad having to pay for my treatment and that makes me angry.”

Nathanael, or Nat as he is known to his friends, lives in Thame with his grandparents. He has been struggling with a rare allergy for a number of years, which means that he can’t eat most proteins or sugars. By the age of nine, he was one of the most gifted swimmers in his age group in the country and he is also a talented musician. However, by the time he was 14, he was told that he was allergic to a wide range of foods and was placed on an artificial liquid diet.

Recent tests have confirmed that his problems started with his allergies. However his treatments and basic condition have jointly conspired to produce an infection of Candidiasis. This is a yeast-type infection, one of the most common forms being Thrush. However in Nat’s case it is rampant throughout his body, organs and blood. Nat has been told that his whole system is at the point of collapse. He was also told that the treatment was very expensive and needed NHS funding to be affordable. Nat currently lives with his grandparents in Thame who are helping to fund his much needed treatment.

To find out more about Nat’s situation and have an opportunity to donate, go to http://www.help4nat.co.uk or the Facebook page set up to help spread the word https://www.facebook.com/help4nat