Three kind-hearted Fife workmates took to the skies to help send two little boys suffering from a life-threatening illness to Lapland for Christmas.
Barry Kinnell, 25, Lorraine Headspeath, 49, and Gerard Doran, 28, who all work at BskyB in Dunfermline, signed up to do a fundraising sky dive at Fife Airport after hearing about stepbrothers Benjamin McKenzie and Cameron Stewart’s dream to see Santa in his world famous workshop in Finland.
The sky dive was organised by the Fund A Wish Foundation charity, based in Dunfermline.
Benjamin and Cameron, who are both eight, suffer from a condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic, degenerative condition, which affects mainly boys.
It causes a gradual deterioration of muscle strength, which means they will soon need to use wheelchairs full-time, endure major spinal operations in the future and may not enjoy long lives.
The boys, who were both diagnosed as toddlers, first met four years ago when their childhood-sweetheart parents, Sheryl and Alan, got back in touch with each other after 12 years on discovering through a mutual friend that both their children were suffering from the same illness.
They went on to rekindle their romance and married in 2011, resulting in the boys, who had become the best of friends by that time, becoming stepbrothers.
Benjamin and Cameron, who live in Stoneyburn in West Lothian, also have two sisters, Phoebe, six and Layla, two.
Sheryl, 35, said: “The boys are the best of friends and the girls love them to bits, as do the rest of the family. They’re such lovely lads with great characters and we are so proud of them.
“It’s funny the way fate works. We both believe the way things have turned out with both our children suffering from DMD and the way they brought us back together is a sign that we were always meant to be together.
“They both have wheelchairs but still have a little mobility.
“However, we have been told that by the time they are 10 they will both be in wheelchairs for good and their health will start to deteriorate rapidly.
“So that is why this trip to Lapland this year is so important and we can’t thank everyone involved enough for helping to make their dream come true.”
Ahead of the dive, Dunfermline man Barry, a sales adviser and paintball specialist, said: “When I heard about Cameron and Benjamin I just wanted to help them in whatever way I could.
“I had always wanted to do a sky dive one day as well, so I was more than happy to take part.”
Gerard, a customer experience leader from Rosyth, was equally relaxed about the challenge, despite the fact he had never even flown in an aeroplane before.
“I can think of no better cause than sending these two lovely wee laddies to Lapland,” he said.
Fellow customer experience leader Lorraine was slightly more apprehensive, however. “I’ve been so nervous all week as I have a real fear of heights but this is a good way of helping me conquer my fear and raising money for a fantastic cause at the same time.”
Run single-handedly by devoted mother-of-six Cheryl Myles, the Fund A Wish Foundation was only set up last year but has already helped 14 children realise their dreams.
The BSkyB colleagues have personally raised more than £2,500 for the boys’ trip in December but further donations are welcome via www.gofundme.com/3jaflo.
Picture by George McLuskie