A Dundee-based campaign involving people putting pants on their heads has been launched to help fight a rare genetic condition.
Blake McMillan, from Longforgan, was born with one of the rarest genetic diseases in the world, MeCP2 Duplication Syndrome, which severely affects motor skills.
The two-year-old has been at the heart of community efforts to fund research into treatments and potential cures and a daring social media campaign has now been launched to boost awareness of the disease.
The ‘This condition is PANTS’ campaign involves members of the public posting photographs of themselves on the internet with underwear on their head.
Participants are also encouraged to nominate their friends to take on the challenge, as well as donate to MeCP2 charity Reverse Rett.
The campaign was launched by McMillan family friend Claire Puzey and Blake’s mother, Jenny McMillan, is enormously thankful for the support.
“We are always trying to think of new and interesting ways to raise money and make people aware of Blake’s condition,” Mrs McMillan said.
“I have been close to Claire, who runs Baby Sensory Dundee, and she came up with the idea.
“I’m so grateful to her and everyone who has supported us in this campaign. It really means a lot. ‘Pants’ is a really polite way of describing this disease,” she added.
More than 50 people have already taken up the challenge and Mrs McMillan hopes it will excite people in Dundee and those even further afield.
It is similar in concept to the ice bucket challenge, which is designed to raise awareness of motor neurone disease and has enjoyed a phenomenal international uptake.
“It would be great if we could get a celebrity to take up the challenge but I’d just be really happy if it took off in Dundee,” she said.
“It is such a rare condition (that Blake has). When he was diagnosed I had never heard of it and nor even had his paediatrician.
“There is research going on and scientists believe there can be a treatment for it, even if not a cure. Of course, though, that requires money and awareness.”
Those who undertake This condition is PANTS are asked to donate £2 to Reverse Rett, although any donation, larger or smaller, is welcomed.
A total of £500 has already been raised. Mrs McMillan said: “There are hundreds of other children from around the world who will benefit in the future (from this funding and research).
“I would just encourage everyone to take part, post a picture and share the campaign around. I hope it goes viral.”