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12-Year-Old Girl Fighting Rare Aging Disease Becomes Best Friends With 330Lbs Weightlifter A.K.A “The Beast”
David Douglas knows what it means to be strong. He is, after all, a six-foot tall, 330 pound, ex-marine-turned-powerlifter nicknamed “The Beast”. He can bench 600 pounds and deadlift 770, but only when he met 12-year-old Lindsay Ratcliffe did he realise the true meaning of strength.
Lindsay has an extremely rare genetic disorder called Progeria that ages the body 8-10 times faster than normal. This gives Lindsay an average lifespan of just 13 years. “You would never know that she was fighting something so hard,” Douglas told A Plus, “because she is always smiling.” David and Lindsay met in 2013 at a powerlifting event called Relentless. The event is sponsored by HopeKids and is held to benefit children with rare diseases. The two have been friends ever since.
“Lindsay became my lil sis since day one,” Douglas writes. “There are no words to describe how I feel about her. She has pulled me out of rough spots just by thinking of her. That is a priceless gift.”
If you’d like to help Lindsay and her family you can donate here.
More info: Instagram | Facebook | Relentless | HopeKids (h/t: A Plus)
RELATED:
David Douglas is a powerlifter, but he gets his strength from 12-year-old Lindsay Ratcliffe
“People looked at me as strong when everything about her was stronger,” writes David
Lindsay suffers from Progeria, a rare genetic disorder that ages the body 8-10 times faster than normal
David and Lindsay met at Relentless, a sponsored powerlifting event to benefit children with rare diseases
The two have been best friends ever since
“Lindsay became my lil sis since day one,” says Douglas
“She has pulled me out of rough spots just by thinking of her. That is a priceless gift”
David is nicknamed “The Beast” but Lindsay really brings out his soft side
“There are no words to describe how I feel about her,” says Douglas
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UlrikaTückdeMantel 9 years ago
and someone must scratching on a black board... i got goosebumps (sorry, i´m nor sure about the perfect word for..)
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CathyColeman 9 years ago
We have a program that our our church sponsors called Relentless Detroit which pairs power lifters with children suffering from cancer. There are several events per year that raise funds and awareness of the diseases (mostly cancer) that affect these kids and the funds all go towards their treatment. It's awesome to see these big guys, and girls, being so tender with these tiny kids. Way to go, David!
RicardoB. 9 years ago
Choked up on the bus reading the story that my wife sent me about the Love between Dads and there daughters, then reading this was just a heartfelt moment. It just reminds us that God has our back and want what's best for each and everyone of us. No matter what situation your in, remember he Loves us more that left itself. That he sent his only son to die a horrible death so that we can be saved from every day life. So let's all kindly remember his No. 1 commandment Mark ch; 12-30:31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
Cathleen Morris 9 years ago
Amazing! In this vast cosmos they found each other & connected. Sure Lindsay is equally grateful for David's gifts to HER heart!
ElizabethMolloy 9 years ago
What a lovely story. Thanks so much for sharing (onion ninjas here too!).
DiegoBelli 9 years ago
the Cosmos divided itself into infinite shards in order to experiment itself dynamically and subjectively ... all life forms are One. the big bang...
KarenChaddock 9 years ago
It certainly is nice to read such a heart warming story of young people bonding in friendship.
UlrikaTückdeMantel 9 years ago
and someone must scratching on a black board... i got goosebumps (sorry, i´m nor sure about the perfect word for..)
Load More Replies... CathyColeman 9 years ago
We have a program that our our church sponsors called Relentless Detroit which pairs power lifters with children suffering from cancer. There are several events per year that raise funds and awareness of the diseases (mostly cancer) that affect these kids and the funds all go towards their treatment. It's awesome to see these big guys, and girls, being so tender with these tiny kids. Way to go, David!
RicardoB. 9 years ago
Choked up on the bus reading the story that my wife sent me about the Love between Dads and there daughters, then reading this was just a heartfelt moment. It just reminds us that God has our back and want what's best for each and everyone of us. No matter what situation your in, remember he Loves us more that left itself. That he sent his only son to die a horrible death so that we can be saved from every day life. So let's all kindly remember his No. 1 commandment Mark ch; 12-30:31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
Cathleen Morris 9 years ago
Amazing! In this vast cosmos they found each other & connected. Sure Lindsay is equally grateful for David's gifts to HER heart!
ElizabethMolloy 9 years ago
What a lovely story. Thanks so much for sharing (onion ninjas here too!).
DiegoBelli 9 years ago
the Cosmos divided itself into infinite shards in order to experiment itself dynamically and subjectively ... all life forms are One. the big bang...
KarenChaddock 9 years ago
It certainly is nice to read such a heart warming story of young people bonding in friendship.
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