Andy Burnham's now-famous blue wristband, spotted in official photos from BBC interviews to meetings with world leaders, is a tribute to a boy he met a decade ago. The wristband is linked to Joseph, a 17-year-old from Wigan who was given a life expectancy of around three years at birth due to a rare condition.
A Promise Kept
Joseph was diagnosed with Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinemia, a condition causing severe seizures, developmental challenges, and breathing problems. Only around 500 people worldwide are known to live with it. His mother, Emma Kendrick, recalled the terrifying moment doctors delivered the news: "When Jo was born we could see that something wasn't quite right. At first the doctors kept telling us he just had an infection. But then we were called into a side room at the hospital, and while we were waiting to see the doctor, a nurse came and threw a box of tissues onto the table. We knew then that something was terribly wrong."
Despite the dire prognosis, Joseph defied expectations. "It's like he just decided not to listen to them! He just keeps fighting," Emma said proudly. "And he's such a happy little boy despite everything he's going through, the constant pain he experiences, and being stuck in his chair when his brothers are running around."
The Charity Connection
Joseph's father, Paul, a sports journalist for Wigan Today, launched the charity Josephs Goal to fund research into the condition. In 2013, Joseph gained international attention when he was carried onto the Wembley pitch by Latics captain Emmerson Boyce before the FA Cup Final. That same year, the family reached out to local politicians for a charity ball. Burnham, then MP for Leigh, responded along with Lisa Nandy, donating a bottle of House of Commons whiskey as a raffle prize.
Burnham met Joseph at a charity match later that year and has worn the wristband ever since. He even played as a substitute for Wigan Athletic XI in a 2019 play-off against Manchester United XI. Paul noted, "People keep sending us screenshots and posts online when they catch a glimpse of it. We're so glad he's still wearing it. The biggest struggle for us as a charity has been raising awareness of the condition - because it's just so rare. So having the Prime Minister himself representing us nationally and internationally, to support a little boy he met more than ten years ago and never forgot, it's amazing for us. And I do think that says a lot about him."
Ongoing Support
Donations to Josephs Goal fund research by Dr Nick Greene at UCL, who is making progress in gene therapy to lower harmful glycine levels in the brain. Paul has also challenged Burnham to join another charity match next year against Everton, the PM's favorite club. "If his scheduling allows it, there'll be a spare shirt waiting for him," Paul said.
