His name rhymes with Bono, and to some kids he's way cooler than Santa. And even though you've never heard of Jono Lancaster - much like the jolly man in the red suit - he's been travelling the world, brightening young lives all around him.
Lancaster has Treacher Collins' syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that prevents the skull, jawbones and cheeks from developing completely.
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“I grew up with Treacher Collins and I kind of felt like I was on my own and I felt like I was the only one out in the world that was like me,” said Lancaster. "I would have loved to have met somebody like myself when I was younger … somebody who had got a job, got a partner, and said to me ‘these are the things you can do, you can achieve.’"
Lancaster has literally become the change he wanted to see in the world. He has made a point of connecting with children who have Treacher's so they feel less isolated than he did as a kid. Even if it means travelling all over the place.
After a mom discovered he would be visiting Australia, she connected with Lancaster via Facebook, and he agreed to meet her two-year-old son, Zackary. From there similar visits were arranged, taking him all over the land down under.
“[Jono] is a celebrity to us—he’s a huge inspiration,” Zack's mom told a local Adelaide paper.
Lancaster is giving the next generation hope that their genetic condition doesn't have to get in the way of them leading full, happy lives. You only have to glimpse the man's Twitter feed to witness the extent of his reach. His tweets are so beautiful and moving, I defy you to stay dry-eyed while reading.
This real-life Saint Nick is making magic and touching lives wherever he goes, and he doesn't even have to wear a red suit or a silly beard to do so. You are a true rockstar, Jono!
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