When he was just a few months old, Eddison’s skin started to redden and blister. Initially, doctors thought he had sunburn but his parents noticed that his skin continued to worsen even when he had spent the day indoors.
Just after his first birthday, Eddison was diagnosed with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a genetic disorder that prevents skin from repairing itself after it is exposed to the ultraviolet radiation found in daylight and many sources of artificial light. Children with XP are 10,000 times more likely than others to develop skin cancer and so the only safe way affected children can venture outside is when they wear specialist clothing.
The money raised on Jeans for Genes Day will provide protective hats with visors and gloves for children with XP to ensure that they can safely go outside and do the things other children do, like ride a bike or play on a swing.