A FOOTBALL-MAD youngster received a letter from Chelsea and England captain John Terry – after he heard about his plight from The Northern Echo.
Eight-year-old Ben Conlin suffers from a genetic disorder, Hurler Scheie syndrome, a strain of mucopolysaccharide (MPS), which affects only 100 children and adults in the country.
His favourite team is Chelsea, after he was introduced to them by his father, Peter.
Last week, John Terry sent the youngster a personal letter after he was told about him by Chelsea Football Club.
In the letter, Terry said he was told Ben was a big fan and thanked him for supporting the team.
Ben, of Stockton, received autographs from Terry, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba, along with a box of Chelsea merchandise.
His father Peter said he could not believe how lucky Ben had been.
The gifts from the football club came a week after Ben watched Chelsea win the FA Cup at Wembley.
Bosses at Premier Waste Management, in Durham City, donated a pair of tickets after also reading about Ben’s disorder and the treatment he has to endure.
Mucopolysaccharides are chains of sugar molecules used in building connective tissues.
Children with MPS are missing an enzyme which means the cells are stored in the body, instead of being used.
The disease means Ben is less flexible and not as strong as other children his age, as a result of the build-up of sugars in his joints.
Without his weekly treatment, he would be sick and constantly tired.
Mr Conlin said: “I can’t believe what has happened. We thought things could not be any better after the Cup final but then we got this box from Chelsea.
“He is such a lucky boy, but he really deserves it.
“Ben was so shocked when I told him the autographs were not generic and were signed especially for him.
“The Cup final was awesome.
I still didn’t believe we were actually going until we were in our seats. We were sitting right near where the players came out of the tunnel.
“Adrian at Premier Waste Management also got Ben a special Chelsea FA Cup final shirt, which was amazing.
“We can’t thank everyone enough. It is something we will both remember for the rest of our lives.”
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