A fundraising campaign has been launched to raise £10,000 for a boy with muscular dystrophy for him to complete his “bucket list”.

12-year-old Rhys Jones, from Newtown, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an inherited muscle-wasting and life-limiting disease which usually affects boys.

Last month, Rhys’ uncle and his uncle’s best friend launched a campaign to help him complete his bucket list.

Warren Sherwood, Rhys’ uncle, and Gideon Berends-Sheriff are planning to walk, cycle and kayak the length of the River Severn from source to mouth to raise £10,000 for Rhys.

The 220-mile challenge, planned for May 2019, will take eight days to complete with Warren’s step-dad Dave, a firefighter, on hand along the way at checkpoints for health and safety reasons.

Warren and Gideon will walk from the Severn’s source at Pumlumon, then cycle to Newtown then kayak to the mouth of the Severn.

County Times:

Rhys Jones, from Newtown, would love to watch Liverpool FC score a goal in a Champions League game

The massive Liverpool Football Club fan’s “bucket list” includes watching his favourite team score in a Champions League match and a family trip to the United States to swim with dolphins

“Rhys has quite the bucket list – and rightly so,” said Warren.

“In order for Rhys to be able to do this, it will cost a large amount of money, more than we initially anticipated. To get a company to take the whole family on a hassle free holiday, where they think of everything and cater for all Rhys’s needs.

“Anything we make over, will be put in to a trust fund to help care for Rhys as he gets older and we will be donating some of the excess to the Muscular Dystrophy charity.

“We are very aware of the monumental task in hand and we are extremely determined to train hard, raise as much money as possible and make Rhys’s dreams come true.”

The former Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupil uses a wheelchair as his condition means his muscles weaken and lose the ability to walk.

No cure has yet been discovered for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but treatment can help to manage many of the symptoms.

The condition is severe enough to shorten life-expectancy but, with high standards of medical care, most young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy reach adulthood.

Rhys doesn’t let his condition stop him living a normal teenage life, playing football games on his Xbox and visiting his uncle’s farm.

Warren says he’s been overwhelmed with the “brilliant” support he’s received since posting the fundraising campaign on social media

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity which will make Rhys’ dreams come true.”

In May 2019, Newtown RFC Legends/Veterans will play a match against a team of ex-Welsh rugby players followed by an auction at Newtown Rugby Club.

Bidding has started in a ‘Silent Auction’ on ‘Rhys Jones’ Bucket List’ Facebook page for a pair of tickets for a Manchester City match of your choice.

To show your support for Rhys, visit the fundraising page.