Brave Egor meets our rugby heroes

Feb 9 2008 by Jessica Flynn, South Wales Echo

A BOY with an incurable skin condition met the Welsh rugby team as they continued their push for Six Nations glory.

Egor Arlov, 10, who was rescued from a Belarus orphanage in 1999, met the Welsh team at the Millennium Stadium as they prepared for today’s crunch game against Scotland.

Egor was rescued by the charity Leaves of Hope which was set up by Val Cousins, from Llanrumney, Cardiff.

The youngster, who has a rare skin condition Ichthyosis – which leaves him in constant pain where his skin scales, cracks and bleeds – was abandoned by his mother and spent the first few years of his life in an orphanage. Since Val met Egor nearly five years ago, she has helped to get him fostered in Belarus and, through her GP Dr Joanna Longstaffe, clinical director of Independent General Practice, get vital skin treatment.

“Egor is doing very well,” said Val. “We’re really pleased with him. Being part of a family in Minsk has made a huge difference to his life and he’s now a person in his own right.

“The treatment is coming on but we need to keep the medical supplies coming in.”

Dr Longstaff said: “Egor’s skin is looking an awful lot better, less angry and unsightly. The condition also affects his eyes which are significantly better. When we first met him he would sleep with his eyes open but now that’s not the case.

“The treatment has quite strong side-effects so we see Egor about three times a year to monitor him.

“The improvement in him and his confidence is very pleasing to see.”

Harry the Rhondda Cowboy organised yesterday’s trip to the Millennium Stadium to meet the Welsh squad and he was also putting on a Welcome in the Hillside party today for Egor.

Val said: “In the orphanage, Egor would hide away but he’s hardly shy any more. He’s a totally different little boy, normal, healthy and happy.

“He was really excited to meet the players and going to the stadium and he said he now supports Wales.”

If you would like to help Egor, visit www.justgiving.com/leavesofhopeegor or to find out more about Leaves of Hope visit www.leaves-of-hope.co.uk

jessica.flynn@wme.co.uk