A COUNTY Durham teenager will be strapping into the world's fastest zipline to raise funds to help find a cure for a heriditary muscle wasting disease affecting his younger brother.
William Jackson, 14, of Spennymoor will be joined by his cousin Jennifer when he takes ton the challenge at Zip World, Penrhyn Quarry, Snowdonia, on Tuesday (April 12).
William was seven years old when his younger brother, Louis, was diagnosed with Becker muscular dystrophy. 
He has raised £500 and hopes the money will go towards finding a cure for Becker muscular dystrophy.
Louis, 10, lives with the condition which causes progressive muscle wasting and weakness. Over time, it can cause severe disability and it can be life-threatening in some cases.
The zipline is 1,555m long with top speeds reaching over 100mph and the family will be going there to cheer the fundraisers on.
Mum Sarah Jackson said: "William loves his brother and he’s always wanted to do his own fundraiser.
"He even has a huge list of ideas from visiting every football stadium to running a marathon in a week. He has done an indoor skydive with me before and he has been desperate to do the zipline but he wasn’t old enough until recently.
"William and his cousin jumped at the chance to do the zipline as a fundraiser when the opportunity arose."
She added: “William has had to grow up very quickly. When Louis was diagnosed, we had just had our newborn daughter and Louis was only three.
"William had to take a lot of responsibility to help us all cope. We depended on him to help where he was needed and do what he was told.
We’re so proud of him and he’s grown into a brilliant person. I’m so pleased he’s got this moment to shine and show how amazing he is. He is scared of heights but he claims not to be nervous at all.”
Sarah said William hopes is money will help find a cure for Becker muscular dystrophy and to go towards equipment to help people living with the condition.
She said: “For a long time, William wanted to be a geneticist so he could find a cure for Louis. We even had a tour of the muscle genetic department at the Center for Life in Newcastle! He’s now veering more towards being a sports journalist but I think he’ll use whatever platform he has to advocate for awareness."
Susanne Driffield, Regional Development Manager-North of England & East Midlands from Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “William is a brilliant big brother and I know he has wanted to get involve in a fundraiser for a while now, he is absolutely going for it, riding the fastest zip line in the world.”
You can donate to the family fund here.
For more information about Zip World click here.
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