Disabled boy closer to lifelong dream
Sep 3 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal
A DISABLED teenager is closer to achieving his lifelong dream. Muscular dystrophy sufferer Harry Thompson has always dreamed of swimming with dolphins despite his debilitating condition.
Unfortunately, the 13-year-old, of Cornhill near Berwick, Northumberland, broke his leg in January, leaving him unable to walk and reliant on a powered wheelchair.
Now his personal assistant Rebecca Clark, 21, of Mindrum Station, has come up with the idea of raising funds to allow him to travel to Florida next year to swim with dolphins.
Rebecca, of Mindrum Station, and friend Delia Howlett, of Lempitlaw Farm, Cornhill, got the mission under way with a sponsored 25-mile horse ride. The women wore specially-made T-shirts bearing the Harry’s Dolphin Fund logo.
Harry’s mother Michelle Thomp- son said: “Harry has wanted to go to Florida and swim with dolphins for a long time and now Rebecca has taken it upon herself to help him out.”
Miss Thompson is organising several other fundraising events, with the first a disco, auction and raffle at nearby Kirknewton Village Hall on October 25.
She has already approached local businesses for lots for the auction and has been promised several, including a £90 makeover, and is on the lookout for a celebrity host.
The hall’s committee is only charging for the licensing of the bar, having made Harry’s fund its chosen charity for the year.
The Thompsons have set up a website for the fundraising drive (www.harrysdolphinfund.co.uk) on which Harry will write about his interests.
Harry featured in The Journal last November when his mother withdrew him from Berwick Middle School after it was unable to cater for his wheelchair.
She strived to get him a place at Belford Middle School but Northumberland County Council said the necessary disabled access could not be provided in time.
He has since had tuition at home five hours a week, and attended lessons part time at Berwick Community High School, where he is to start full-time next month.
Harry has wanted to go to Florida and swim with dolphins for a long time
