Reaching for the Stars: Ottawa Gala Aims to Cure Rare Disease for 7-Year-Old Jack

Looking back, the signs were small. Jack’s toes were slightly turned in, and the muscles in his legs seemed unusually stiff. The doctor wasn’t overly concerned and reassured his parents that he’d probably grow out of it. But a year later, with no signs of improvement and under the care of a physiotherapist, Richard and Anna Laidlaw took their son to a neurologist for further evaluation.

The diagnosis was Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia Type 4 (SPG4)—a rare, progressive neurological disorder with no known treatment or cure. Since that day, Jack’s parents have committed themselves to doing everything they can to raise funds to support research at every stage until a cure is found.

On May 24, the Laidlaw family will host “Jack’s Gala: Reaching for the Stars” at The Brookstreet Hotel. Ottawa residents are invited to come out, dine, dance and support their mission to help find a cure for this rare disease.

Why the stars? Because Jack, now seven years old, dreams of becoming an astronaut—and being the first person to walk on Mars.

The gala evening begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and features special guest Marc Garneau, Canada’s first astronaut, as keynote speaker. Ryan Anderson, president of the Canadian Space Society, will bring a special space exhibit for guests to enjoy. The night also includes a three-course dinner, performances by Stittsville musician Tyler Kealey, a live auction hosted by Stuntman Stu, emceeing by Derick Fage, a DJ and dancing.

Jack is currently participating in a study at Boston Children’s Hospital that tracks patients living with SPG4. While there is still no treatment, a research team at the UMass Chan Medical School is developing a promising gene therapy that could potentially cure the disease.

The challenge is funding. SPG4 affects only about 1 in every 50,000 people, making it difficult to attract the level of investment needed to move research forward. That’s why “Jack’s Gala: Reaching for the Stars” is so important. All funds raised will go directly toward advancing SPG4 research—including the development of gene therapy—aiming to bring it all the way to human clinical trials.

Even if you can’t attend the event, you can still contribute by donating to The Blu Genes Foundation to support research to find a cure.

The Laidlaw family is hopeful. With enough support, Jack may one day receive the gene therapy that could give him the long, active life he dreams of—one where he can chase the stars and keep being the loving big brother to his two younger siblings.

To purchase tickets for “Jack’s Gala: Reaching for the Stars” at The Brookfield Hotel on May 24, click here.

Stay up to date on the Gala by following @jacks_gal on Instagram and Jacks Gala on Facebook.