They are Diane Kirkpatrick, 49, Karen Thomson, 52, and Donna Thomas, 46, all police staff who have worked together and now want to support Gerry – Somhairle’s dad and a well-liked police inspector.
None has jumped before. Diane said:
When Gerry first phoned me to tell me the news about Somhairle I vowed to help fundraise. Up until now it’s just been small things such as football cards and collections at work, but this time we’re going big.
They have organised a pre-jump fundraising party on Saturday 7th March at Beancross Restaurant & Hotel, Polmont. The evening will include a piper, a singer, DJ, huge raffle, several games/competitions, a candy cart, a selfie corner, a glitter face artist and buffet. Well-known Scottish actor Jordan Young, who sadly lost two uncles to muscular dystrophy conditions, will attend. Diane said:
She added:
I am thoroughly looking forward to the party but absolutely petrified about the jump. However that pales into insignificance when I think of what Gerry and Sarah go through every day. Karen and Donna feel exactly the same and we are all committed to raising as much as we possibly can for the research.
About Somhairlie McMenemy
Somhairle is an energetic, fun-loving lad, full of questions and curious about the world. His name is Somhairle (a Gaelic name, pronounced ‘Sorley’) and he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in August of 2017 when he was just four years old.
Gerry and Sarah first took Somhairle to the doctor because they were getting worried about his clumsiness when walking and how easily he got tired. They weren’t sure what the problem was but weren’t too worried. They thought the most he might need was a special pair of shoes to help him walk.
But then, after some referrals and blood tests, they were told their little boy had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a muscle-wasting condition that has no cure. It would affect his walking and movement, his heart and breathing and would most likely cut his life short. This devastating news hit the family like a tidal wave. Diane said:
Thank goodness they found Muscular Dystrophy UK. Their website and publications were incredibly helpful as a source of information they knew they could trust. It’s been a brutally difficult journey for the family since Somhairle’s diagnosis, and it’s not over yet. It has made such a difference to have support and accurate information from MDUK.
Tickets for the fundraising event are available by contacting Diane on 07801510314 – dkaroma@hotmail.com. Or Donna Thomas – bryansdonna@yahoo.co.uk and Karen Thomson – kft.2467@gmail.com. OR you can support Donna and the High Flying Burds here.