Terminally-ill boy, 16, who is not expected to live to see 30 arrives at his school prom in style in a helicopter with Miss England on his arm
- Kyran Richmond was diagnosed with Batten’s disease in 2011 aged eight
- His condition means he has a shortened life expectancy and won’t see past 30
- Determined to live life to the full he went to prom with beauty queen Alisha, 19
A teenage boy with a rare terminal illness, determined to life live to the full, turned up at his school prom in a helicopter with Miss England on his arm.
Kyran Richmond, 16, was diagnosed with Batten’s Disease at the age of eight, which means he is unlikely to live to see his 30th birthday.
But having a life-shortening condition has only made him more intent on making the most of every day – and his prom night was no exception.
Kyran, of County Durham, flew in to his Year 11 leaving party in a chopper with beauty queen Alisha Cowie, 19 as his date.
Kyran Richmond, 16, turned up at his school prom in a helicopter with Miss England Alisha Cowie, 19 on his arm on Friday
The 16-year-old (pictured with date Alisha) was diagnosed with Batten’s Disease at the age of eight, which means he is unlikely to live to see his 30th birthday
Kyran, of County Durham, flew in to his Year 11 leaving party in a chopper with beauty queen Alisha Cowie, 19 as his date
Focused on making memories, family friend Cheryl Ellis said Friday night’s was one of the best yet.
‘He absolutely loved it,’ beamed Cheryl. ‘As soon as Kyran said he wanted a helicopter, I said that even if we couldn’t get a pilot then I would have flown it.’
But there was no need as a community rallied around the teen to make his dream come true – especially his fellow Newcastle United fans.
Arriving in style: Kyran, 16, turns up at the Hall Garth Hotel near Darlington in a helicopter
What an entrance! Kyran arrives with father Carl and date Alisha to his Year 11 leaving party
Offers of money and favours poured in from supporters for the season ticket holder to help make his dream come true.
And on Friday night it did, as Kyran arrived at the Hall Garth Hotel, near Darlington.
And he was the envy of his fellow pupils at The Oaks Secondary School, in Spennymoor, with his James Bond-style entrance.
‘Everyone said they had never seen anybody enter a prom like that,’ admitted Cheryl, from Chilton.
‘He danced with Alisha and some of the teachers, and he was still on a high the next morning.’
The youngster was born healthy but, aged six, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa – an eye disease where there is damage to the retina.
Then in 2011, he was handed the heartbreaking diagnosis of Juvenile Batten Disease – with no known cure for Kyran’s strain.
His loved ones created a fundraising team to raise awareness of the condition and to help cover the costs of the teen’s ongoing needs.
Kyran was the envy of his fellow pupils at The Oaks Secondary School, in Spennymoor, with his James Bond-style entrance in a helicopter