We are Iram and Shazad, and we are writing this for our son, Ayan.

Ayan is 8 years old - a kind, curious little boy who loves to laugh with his younger sister Amber and explore the world around him. Like any parent, we want nothing more than to see him grow, learn, and enjoy life to the fullest.

Ayan used to love playing with cars - anything with four wheels he could get his hands on. He would happily spend hours playing, dancing along to Blippi, and watching films with us as a family.

Recently, our world changed.

Ayan has been diagnosed with a rare eye condition called Stargardt disease.

It is a form of juvenile macular degeneration, which affects the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision. Over time, it causes progressive and irreversible vision loss. This means that things many of us take for granted - reading, recognising faces, seeing clearly - are becoming harder for Ayan.

We are already seeing the impact.

Much of Ayan’s world is now blurred. He can only just make out shapes through his peripheral vision, and with every check-up, we are told his sight is getting worse.

He often bumps into things, and struggles to see details that should be clear at his age. As parents, it is incredibly difficult to watch.

But what has been hardest to hear is this:

Now he tells us he doesn’t want toys anymore, because he can’t see well enough to play with them.

Instead, Ayan values experiences - feeling the sea at the beach, or being part of something special and memorable while he still can.

That is why we are asking for help.

As parents, we are doing everything we can - but the reality is that giving Ayan the best possible chance comes with significant costs.

Ayan has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare condition with no known cure. However, there are specialist consultations, emerging treatments, and clinical trials that may help slow its progression and protect his remaining vision. Ayan is being treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London but there is no immediate treatment available to him.

To explore every possible option, we may need to:

These are opportunities we want to give him but they come at a cost we cannot manage alone.

How you can help

If you are able to support Ayan, any contribution - no matter how small - would mean so much to our family.

Your support will help us:

If you are unable to donate, sharing Ayan’s story would mean a great deal to us.

We would also welcome support in helping create meaningful experiences for Ayan - whether that’s access to places, events, or opportunities he can enjoy while he can.

From us, as parents

This is not something we ever imagined having to face.

But we are determined to do everything we can for our son - to give him hope, opportunity, and the best possible future.

Thank you for taking the time to read Ayan’s story, and for any support you are able to give.

With gratitude,

Iram and Shazad