A DEDICATED uncle has taken up an extreme charity challenge to raise money in recognition of his nephew who is living with two rare genetic disorders.

George Parrott, of Kennel Lane, Billericay, will be spending nine days trekking Iceland’s second largest glacier, the Long Glacier, in February next year.

The 24-year-old will spend nine days battling icy conditions at the glacier in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the Anthony Nolan charity, which supports people living with blood diseases.

Mr Parrott’s five-year-old nephew, Jack Kleinberg, who is from Southend, is living with a blood disorder, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, which reduces the body’s ability to produce blood clots.

He also suffers from Mediterranean fever, which means that he can often have episodes of painful inflammation in the abdomen, lungs and joints.

Mr Parrot said: “My nephew’s conditions on their own are rare.

“But both of them combined together has never been seen before. Because of this, when he goes to the doctors they’re just carrying out trial evaluations to assess what’s the best thing for him.

“Whenever I go to my sister’s, Vicky, it’s very heartbreaking to see Jack needing to take injections for his illness. You just don’t know what to say, and you just don’t know what to do.

“Jack knows when the injections are coming and he tries to fight it. It’s very hard to watch.

“So this charity challenge is the only way for me to do something for Jack, my sister and brother-in-law, and to say thank you to all the doctors and people who have supported him.”

Mr Parrott chose the most extreme challenge as he was inspired by his nephew’s cheery spirit to carry on and live a normal life despite his lifelong conditions.

He said: “Vicky has done an amazing job. She has given up so much to care for her children, especially Jack. She’s done everything she can to give Jack a good and happy life.

“He has started school and he’s really enjoying it. Seeing him come home and talking about what he did at school just makes me smile, because he’s on his way to living a normal life.”

Mr Parrott has been training everyday to prepare for the severe weather, and adapting to high altitude conditions.

He said: “I’m terrified, but I’m also very excited.”

To support him,visit gofundme.com/george-takes-on-iceland.