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Tuesday 23 March, 2021
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Noah’s the man
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Vol 15 No 11
Kat and Noah with Seb Pasquali from Western United FC, after his walk. Photo – WUFC FB page. By Lachlan Ellis On a pitch full of A-League stars at AAMI Park Melbourne, it was a 10-year-old Bacchus Marsh boy who took the limelight. Noah Barlow was born with mitochondrial disease or “mito” and is an ambassador for the Mito Foundation’s Bloody Long Walk, which raises funds for treatments, cure research, education, and services for those with the condition. To raise funds for the Mito Foundation, Noah committed to walking one kilometre over ten days (100-metres per day) with a walker, an incredible feat given he normally gets around in an electric wheelchair due to his condition. But a surprise offer from Western United’s Schools, Club and Community Manager, Pete Bradley, saw Noah walk the length of the pitch at AAMI Park on 14 March, before the Western United v Brisbane Roar game, cheered on by spectators and players alike. Walking with Noah all the way to the corner flag was Western United midfielder Seb Pasquali, who gave Noah a
signed jersey with the words “Noah, you’re the man!” on the front. Noah broke his walking record during the AAMI Park walk, walking 136 metres – up from his previous best of 100 metres. Noah’s mum Kat said she was beyond proud of her little legend. “Noah started having stroke-like episodes, metabolic strokes, when he was 18-months old. He’s had eight now,” she said. “He’s spent a very long time in the hospital, and a very long time fighting. We’re so proud of him – his resilience, grit and strength have been the reason he’s been able to rehabilitate each time after each stroke. He looks for joy, excitement, and fun in everything he does…it always serves him well, that attitude. Young Noah said walking the 136-metres was “the best day of his life”.
Ms Barlow said Noah had lived without a proper diagnosis for years and given there is no treatment or cure for mito, “the more finance we can get behind research and trials, the better”. Ninety per cent of the body’s energy is produced by the mitochondria – mitochondrial disease is a degenerative condition that reduces the mitochondria’s ability to produce energy, causing cells to die and organ systems to fail. One Australian child is born every week who will develop a severe or life-threatening mitochondrial condition. Noah Barlow is the oldest child in the world with his type of the mitochondrial disease. At the time of writing, Noah and Kat’s fundraising team “Noah’s Ninjas” has smashed their fundraising target of $2000 to raise $3,885. For more information on mitochondrial disease and to donate to research and support, visit mito.org.au.
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