Fadesola Adedayo has made history after completing a 17
days marathon race from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos, in a bid to raise
awareness for Steven Johnson Disease.
Stevens–Johnson syndrome, a form of toxic epidermal
necrolysis, is a life-threatening skin condition, in which cell death causes
the epidermis to separate from the dermis. The syndrome is thought to be a
hypersensitivity complex that affects the skin and the mucous membranes
Vanguard reports that the 25 year Fadesola Adebayo reached
the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos at 12:013pm after covering 11 states and
717 kilometres on a daily consecutive marathon, which commenced on the 13th of
May, 2016 from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Speaking to journalists on the 17 marathons in 17 days
project, Adedayo said he was on a mission to create awareness and raise
research funds worth $1million for Steven Johnson Syndrome, a rare skin disease
that killed his brother, Adeyosola Adedayo, on March, 20 2012.
At a rousing reception in Lagos on arrival, he explained the race was to keep alive the memory of his brother as well as to tinker out an end to the skin disease, which has been prevalent in the country since 1922.
"I chose to embark on this project to raise money
and awareness for Steven Johnson Syndrome that killed my brother four years
ago. And all the money will be received will go to research so that people
would not have to go through what my family went through," he said.
Receiving him in Lagos, the State governor, Akinwunmi
Ambode said the state is prepared to boost awareness creation of the disease in
the state as a significant measure to fighting it.
Represented by the Senior Adviser to the Governor on
Sports, Mr. Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye, he enjoined young people to make healthy
lifestyle choices.
The father of the marathoner, Dr Adesola Adebayo,
expressed joy adding that he was inspired by the effort of his son against a
life-threatening syndrome.
"This is a project that many more young people
should recreate against other life threatening farces in our society," he
said.
Also, the mother of the marathoner, Mrs. Abiola
Adebayo,advised young people to influence progress and development of nations
through inspired projects like that of her son.
