By Lars Niven

BILLIONAIRE SIR Richard Branson was so moved by the plight of a west Fife couple whose daughter died of leukaemia that he sent them to the paradise island of St Lucia.

Grant Thackray and Lynne McMaster were stunned to receive a call from the tycoon’s staff, telling them they could pick anywhere in the world and he would pay.

Three-year-old Sara lost her brave battle against the disease in March, despite a bone marrow transplant in the United States. A public appeal raised £600,000 to help pay for Sara’s treatment in North Carolina.

Sir Richard learned of the appeal at the time and flew the family to America on his airline.

At first it looked as though the revolutionary treatment had worked, but Sara passed away following complications.

The couple, who live in Dunfermline, lost their first daughter Tia to croup in 2002.

Devastated by the loss of Sara, they set up the Sara Thackray Charitable Foundation in her memory.

Sir Richard has kept in touch with the fund’s progress and made the generous offer several weeks ago.

The couple jetted out to the Caribbean with their son Grant junior a week past Monday.

Grant’s mum Doris told The Courier yesterday, “The whole thing just came out of the blue. They phoned me to say, ‘Mum, you’ll never guess!’

“Richard Branson said he would like to give them a holiday because he knew this time of year would be so hard for them.

“It was bad enough Tia dying, but then this happening to little Sara was just too much for them. They’ll never be over it and they still get very down about losing her.

“They didn’t want to stay here for Christmas, so it’s been fabulous for them to get away.

“He told them they were to pick anywhere they wanted to go and he’d take care of everything.

“They chose St Lucia and really seem to be enjoying themselves.”

Mrs Thackray, who lives in Dunfermline with her husband Peter, said the family appreciated all the support they had received since the charitable foundation was set up.

They were “gobsmacked” by Sir Richard’s offer.

The couple have been in touch with her to say how much the break has meant to them.

“They have just texted to say they are having a good time and to wish us all a merry Christmas,” she added. “I am hoping this will buck them up a little bit.

“Richard Branson has done them proud.”

Fund-raising for the foundation, which aims to help parents with sick children, has been continuing. Comedian Fred MacAulay donated the proceeds from his sell-out show at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline three months ago.