Eczema misery for Wilf, 4: cure hopes

Head-to-toe eczema is ruining a four-year-old boy’s life but he is now embarking on a campaign to find a cure.
Wilf Scott-Ford, four has an extreme ezcema condition and is trying to raise funds for treatment in France, he is pictured with mum Sarah ScottWilf Scott-Ford, four has an extreme ezcema condition and is trying to raise funds for treatment in France, he is pictured with mum Sarah Scott
Wilf Scott-Ford, four has an extreme ezcema condition and is trying to raise funds for treatment in France, he is pictured with mum Sarah Scott

Wilf Ford, from Berry Lane, Longridge, must have fresh cream and bandages applied every hour to ease his itching and, with starting primary school in September, his mum, Sarah Scott, says she is “scared” about how other children will treat him and how teachers will cope with his needs.

Wilf was diagnosed with severe atopic eczema at five months old and since then has not been able to sleep or play with his toys properly because of the pain his condition causes.

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Sarah says life is “very stressful and tiring” but is hoping to find a cure by raising £6,000 to send Wilf to France for skin treatments.

Wilf Scott-Ford, four has an extreme ezcema condition and is trying to raise funds for treatment in France, he is pictured with mum Sarah ScottWilf Scott-Ford, four has an extreme ezcema condition and is trying to raise funds for treatment in France, he is pictured with mum Sarah Scott
Wilf Scott-Ford, four has an extreme ezcema condition and is trying to raise funds for treatment in France, he is pictured with mum Sarah Scott

“Wilf spends almost every day on the sofa because he’s just too itchy, sore and tired to do anything else,” Sarah said. “We’re up most of the night applying cream and bandages so nobody sleeps much. People have made nasty comments about the way Wilf’s skin looks which isn’t very nice because all he wants is just to be a normal kid doing normal things.”

The £6,000 would pay for three treatements over three years at the Station Thermale Avène Hydrotherapy Center which is situated in the mountains of the south of France.

Although not guaranteed, Sarah hopes the three treatments would cure Wilf’s eczema and allow him to live a normal life.

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She said: “He’s a bright boy and loves learning but being so itchy often means he can’t concentrate. I’m worried it’ll distract the other children and his teachers as they’ll have to take 20 minutes out every hour to re-do his bandages and creams.”

Wilf lives with his mum and sees his dad at weekends and to help raise money they have set up a Facebook group called ‘Wilf’s Campaign’.

“I’ve put videos of Wilf on there and lots of information and all we’ve had is nice and supportive comments,” Sarah said. “We’ve even had donations from people we don’t know which is just amazing.”

So far nearly £1,500 has been raised and fundraising events are planned to help reach the £6,000 target.

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Sarah said: “Hopefully we can get enough money together to get Wilf to France, cure him and let him live a normal life because it’s a small price to pay.”

To donate to Wilf’s campaign you can go to www.gofundme.com/wilfscampaign

What is Eczema?

The word eczema comes from the Greek word “ekzein” meaning “to boil”

It can also be known as dermatitis

It is not contagious (you cannot catch it from someone else)

In mild cases, the skin is dry, scaly, red and itchy

In severe cases there may be weeping, crusting and bleeding

In the UK, one in five children and one in 12 adults have eczema

Info from the National Eczema Society

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