It was a red letter day for disabled Almondbank toddler Jack McNaughton after a surprise donation of more than £1700.
The cash, raised by staff at the Royal Mail distribution office on Feus Road, Perth, has brought the brave two-year-old a step closer to a life-changing operation in the United States.
Little Jack was born with a form of cerebral palsy that prevents him from walking and as he grows his limbs cause him more and more discomfort. After hearing he was suitable for a procedure known as SDR selective dorsal rhizotomy his family launched a massive campaign to raise the £40,000 needed to send him to St Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri, in November.
The latest donation has pushed the total over the £33,000 mark and mum Stacy is confident the operation will be paid for by the middle of next month. She said she had been “bowled over” by the generosity of the local community and had no idea Royal Mail staff were going to be contributing.
“It has been a fabulous surprise. I can’t explain how grateful I am,” she said. “So many people that have never met Jack are keen to help and this cheque has made a big difference.
“We have now passed £33,000 and the figure is still rising. I had never dreamed we would be able to raise so much so quickly.”
Stacy has taken Jack to the distribution office to meet everyone involved.
Worker George Johnston said, “We read Jack’s story in the paper and were keen to help. We recently wrapped up our staff benevolent fund and decided that we would give any leftover money to him. He is a really chirpy wee boy and it’s great to think he might be walking soon.”
A group from Scottish & Southern Energy will also scale Ben Nevis on September 10 to boost Jack’s fund. A total of 14 staff have been training hard for the sponsored climb, which they hope will raise around £5000.
If anyone would like to sponsor the team they should hand cash into Scottish & Southern Energy, Inveralmond House, Perth, for the attention of Suzanne Ritchie. Cheques can also be sent to SSE, FAO Suzanne Ritchie, Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 3AQ.
And led by Jack’s dad Graham, a group of fund-raisers is taking part in a skydive on September 11 and 18. Donations, made payable to Jack McNaughton, can be sent to 34 Admiralty Wood, Almondbank, Perth, PH1 3XW, or through Paypal using his ID Jacksfund40@yahoo.co.uk
Information can also be found on the Jack’s Fund Facebook page.