Cardiff-based
Doctor Who author, Andy Frankham-Allen has pledged his support for meningitis
survivor Luca Williams.
In
January 2012, three-year-old Luca was diagnosed with Meningococcal Septicaemia,
a disease that ravaged his body within a couple of hours. With less than a 3%
chance of survival, the little fighter pulled through – but at a cost. He lost
both his legs from beneath the knee, and much muscle and skin from beneath his
hips.
His
family began the For Luca campaign – designed to both raise awareness and money
to provide Luca with the best possible prosthetic legs for his future. It began
with ‘Raising Your Hand’; simple and easy for everyone to support, you simply
had to write ‘For Luca’ on your hand and raise it high.
Stars
including F1 hero Lewis Hamilton, Kiss legend Gene Simmons and former Guns and
Roses bassist Duff McKagan have all offered their support.
It was
during the ‘Raising Your Hand’ campaign that Andy Frankham-Allen became aware
of Luca at the ‘Avengers Assemble’ red-carpet event in April 2012. Andy
Frankham-Allen says: “Luca is an amazing boy; funny, intelligent, and an
inspiration to us all. The devotion his family show to him is quite incredible,
and it’s great to be able to support him in this way.”
In
conjunction with Luca’s family and Waterstones, Cardiff-based Candy Jar Books
arranged for a signing of Andy’s new book ‘Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor
Who Assistants’, during which he gave out the blue ‘For Luca’ wristbands.
Shaun
Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar Books – who also had meningitis as a
child – feels that Welsh business should get behind Luca’s cause. He said:
“Meningitis is a devastating condition for many people and their families. When
I first heard of Luca’s campaign I felt compelled to get involved and offer any
help I could.”
At the Waterstones’ signing,
Candy Jar presented with a copy of Andy’s book and an exclusively drawn
portrait of Luca by Cardiff-artist Jack Adams. Sian Williams, Luca's mum, said:
"We are extremely grateful for the support Andy has given us through the
launch of his new and exciting book."
