Fundraising News
Brentwood father of two takes on gruelling challenges for Liverpool teenager he’s never met
02 Jul 2026
A Brentwood father of two is taking on a series of gruelling fitness challenges to help raise potentially life-changing funds for a teenager he has never met.
Billy Cartawick, 34, who works as an area manager for a telecoms company, came across Jake McGregor’s story when he was browsing online for a cause to support.
Jake McGregor-How, 16, who lives in Aigburth, Liverpool, started noticing minor issues with his balance around five years ago, which were initially thought to be due simply to problems with his feet.
However, 6 months ago the issue became much more pronounced and following many tests and examinations, he was eventually diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a genetic, neurogenerative disease which often first shows itself in adolescence, at the end of 2025.
It is a life-limiting condition which progressively affects mobility, balance and co-ordination, it can also cause sensory, sight and hearing loss. It also affects the heart.
Billy has three events planned – the Three Peaks Challenge which takes in 23 miles and a 3,064 metre ascent over Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon on July 11, the Basildon Half Marathon on September 13 and the Everest Stairmaster Challenge on October 19, during which he aims to climb the height of Everest on a Stairmaster in around 16 to 19 hours.
"I was originally planning a London to Ibiza cycle with a friend and was looking on the Tree of Hope website for a cause to support. I was really choked up reading about Jake – for some reason his story really resonated with me.
I lost my father quite recently and I saw Jake lost his mother a few years ago. I’ve found the loss really hard, it must be even worse when you’re a teenager. And then to have a diagnosis of this degenerative condition, it’s a huge amount to deal with."
‘In the end we had to put our cycle back to next year. But I still wanted to do something to motivate me to get back into shape and take on some other events. And Jake’s story had really stayed with me so I decided to fundraise for him.
‘I’ve never done any fundraising before, so I had no idea how it was going to go, but I’ve already raised nearly £900, so I’m really pleased. I’m training eight times a week which is quite hard on top of a full time job and two young kids at home, but fundraising for Jake helps keep me motivated.
‘I’ve spoken to his Dad and his Nan, and I’m hoping to meet the family later in the year.’
There is no cure for Jake’s condition, and until recently, no treatment. However a new drug, Omaveloxolone, has been medically proven to slow down, arrest and in some cases, reverse the effects of this terrible disease. It is, however, not available in the UK.
Jake’s father Paul How, 48, a claims manager for a local insurance broker said: ‘Jake had a totally normal childhood. He started to have small issues with his balance aged about 11, which appeared to be corrected with insoles.’
‘Around the time of his GSCEs he was very tired, so he had blood tests and was found to be anaemic, and then coeliac.’
‘But iron pills and a change of diet didn’t seem to make much difference so eventually we saw a neurologist who ordered genetics tests and Jake was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia the end of last year.’
"Jake’s mother Gaynor died of a brain tumour three years ago, which was completely devastating, so he has already had such a huge amount to deal with. At the moment he is getting on with life as normal, studying for A levels and hoping to go to university.’
‘However, his condition will deteriorate, potentially quite rapidly, which is why we need to fundraise for this drug as quickly as possible. Time really is of the essence."
Jake's dad
Omaveloxolone is available in the US and many European countries – and costs around £300,000 per year.
Paul added: ‘We have raised over £133,000 from the kindness of family, friends, through events as well as kind and generous donations from complete strangers, and we are truly, ever so grateful to them all. But obviously we still have a long way to go. I am looking at every way possible of achieving our goal, basically, every penny counts for us.’
‘Until recently Jake had no idea he had any condition at all. Now he just wants the chance to live his life to the fullest for as long as possible.’
Billy reaching out to us really was a lovely example of the kindness of strangers. We didn't know him, but Jake's story really caught his heart. He has volunteered to complete some quite frankly, incredibly difficult challenges, all to raise money for Jake's cause, I can't thank him or commend him enough, such a generous and noble thing to do. We will be willing him on and wishing him the very best, and hope to meet him in person soon to thank him in person. Good luck Billy mate!
Jake's dad
The family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope, which helps families raise money for children and young people like Jake for medical treatments and healthcare services not freely available to them through the NHS and social care. The charity provides fundraising guidance, campaign development, financial management, charity registration and emotional support from the Family Support team. Families like Jake’s benefit from having the support, tools and resources to fundraise effectively as well as access to gift aid, corporate support while also providing donor reassurance.
"We wish Jake and his family all the best with their fundraising activities. We are pleased to give them support in reaching their fundraising goals."
CEO
To sponsor Billy, donate to Jake’s fund or to find out more visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/challenges-for-jake or https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/get-involved/childrens-campaigns/help-our-16-year-old-boy-access-life-saving-treatment-for-friedreich-s-ataxia/
