Sir Rod Stewart has offered to pay for a fan to receive pioneering treatment in the US for a rare genetic disorder.
The chart-topping rocker met 20-year-old Abi Evans at a charity auction on Thursday (March 2) and his generosity took over as he pledged to help the aspiring pilot who suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and is unable to walk.
Abi explained the potentially life-changing moment that occurred when she got chatting with Rod at the charitable bash.
She said: “Rod was rushing through the room and I caught his gaze. He came over and I introduced myself.
“I told him I’ve got a rare condition. He immediately wanted to hear more. I explained all about Ehlers-Danlos, that it was degenerative, that I have a paralysed stomach and nerve damage in my legs which means I can’t walk, but there was a possibility of treatment abroad that could make me better.”
She then revealed how he had generously offered to help her get the pioneering treatment.
She continued to Express.co.uk : “He is sending me to get stem cell treatment in America. And more than that he is going to help in a number of other ways.
“I explained how a rare condition like mine hugely benefits from awareness, that leads to advances in research. He understood that and with his profile said he would help.
“He loved my story, he also wants to make life a bit better for other people with the condition as well.
“He can share what’s needed with the public. We also discussed that if the medical experts there can do any research on me, that may ultimately help other people with the condition as well.”
Rod, 78, has been offering help to many people struggling with the NHS recently, including offering to pay for scans at his local NHS hospital.
He was at the fundraising auction for mental health charity My Black Dog, in Canary Wharf, east London, when he met Abi.
He told the Sunday Express: “The evening was lovely, it was brilliant to be there. Abi is a wonderful girl, I loved our time together and it will be great to be able to help her.”
On the night Rod even auctioned the shoes off his feet according to host and DJ Eddy Temple-Morris who called him "an incredible force of nature."
He explained that author and auctioneer for the night Jeffrey Archer had convinced Rod to hand over the footwear and "spontaneously auctioned them off for £4,500.”
