3:00pm Saturday 17th February 2007
By Neil Phillips
EX-SOCCER ace Ian Wright brought glee to children suffering from a rare skin disorder when he joined them for a surprise kickabout on Friday night at a special camp.
The excited youngsters suffer from XP - Xeroderma Pigmentosa - a rare condition that makes them dangerously sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet rays. The camp, near Frieth, lets the children play games and activities inside during the day, and outside at night - often into the early hours.
The annual Owl Patrol Camp got underway in the remote grounds of St Katherine's in Parmoor. But over dinner it was revealed that a very special guest was on his way to give the kids an unexpected treat.
Ian became involved through his cousin, XP Support Group's Sandra Webb, of Strawberry Close, Prestwood, and organiser of the camp. Sandra's own 12-year-old son Alex is a sufferer of XP.
Ian said: "We've been meaning to come here for a while, and this has been the best opportunity in a long time. We normally see each other up in Wolverhampton. It's a good opportunity to come down here and have a laugh."
He said he had no plans to bore the children with any stuffy course of soccer tips, though: "We're just going to have a little match and play some football. Why would you want to coach them? We just want to let them enjoy themselves."
Once outside, the youngsters picked teams, ran races to decide the kick off and began a match in the icy weather.
In the end it came down to penalties, much to the mock-horror of the former England player who no doubt had flashbacks of many a crucial international game.
By the time he left the camp, the children were back in the warm, getting ready to paint pictures and play indoor games for the rest of the night.
The camp ran until Monday morning, and families also came from as far away as Texas and California in the USA. It lets children and families share their experiences and know-ledge to learn more about the very rare disease - of which there are only around 46 diagnosed cases in the UK.
For more information, go to xpsupportgroup.org.uk
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