Photo: Facebook / Jono Lancaster
Touching clash
Two people, one disease: Jono Lancaster and little Zackary Walton both suffer from the Treacher-Collins syndrome. In Australia, Lancaster meets his fan!
They separate over 15, 000 kilometers and 28 years of age difference. Nevertheless, Zackary Walton and Jono Lancaster have a special connection: they both suffer from the Treacher-Collins syndrome.
The rare developmental disorder of the skull occurs in one of 50, 000 births and is hereditary. The main feature of the disease are facial malformations, which vary in severity depending on the patient.
The Treacher-Collins syndrome makes people look different. But nothing else has to mean something less beautiful - as Jono Lancaster, probably the best-known sufferer in the world, proves. The 30-year-old can not be limited by his illness. He works as a model and works for the foundation "Life for a Kid".
Nevertheless, even for Lancaster his own acceptance of his illness was not easy, as a child he often feels lonely. This memory is rooted in one of the main reasons for his journey to another continent. Lancaster flies to Australia to meet a small fan and peers in Adelaide . Just two years old, Zackary Walton is also suffering from the Treacher-Collins syndrome.
Especially the young age of his little fan was crucial for Lancaster's decision to visit the boy. Zackary Walton should know from the beginning that he is not alone with his illness. With that, Lancaster wants to spare him his own childhood years of insecurity. From Adelaide, Lancaster posted a happy photo of him and his little friend on his Facebook page.
Contributed by Jono Lancaster.
