Farnborough mum’s skydive for son with cerebral palsy

Twelve-year-old Ben Butler has cerebral palsy which causes tightness and spasticity in his arms and legs and difficulties in communication. He need physiotherapy everyday as well as help with eating, drinking and personal care.

Ben’s family and their supporters raised £60,000 to send Ben to America for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy therapy in 2014, and now need to raise around £15,000 each year for the specialized physiotherapy and equipment Ben needs post op.

Mum Mikayla, 34, and dad Jay, 38, have been organising gala balls and charity skydives annually to help raise the funds Ben needs.

Five friends are skydiving at Chiltern Park Airfield in Ipsden on May 8^th, and if restrictions allow, a ball will be held at The Casa Hotel in Yately on July 17^th, with half the proceeds going to Ben’s fund and half to mental health charity MIND.

Mikayla said: ‘I did the first skydive but I don’t think people want to sponsor me every year! We’re always really grateful to our friends and supporters for getting behind us in this way and helping to fundraise for Ben.’

‘We are hoping to hold the ball as usual– we usually have around 100 guests and raise around £5,000. This year we are planning to send half of the proceeds to MIND – it’s been such a difficult year for everybody and mental health is so important.’

The family are supported by Children’s charity Tree of Hope, which helps families fundraise for children like Ben with healthcare needs and provides charity status to benefit from gift aid, corporate support whilst also providing donor reassurance.

Tree of Hope CEO Gill Gibb said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting the Butler in their fundraising and wish them all the best in their continued fundraising.’

To donate to Ben’s fund, visit https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/pleasesupportben/

For more information about Ben, visit https://www.facebook.com/benstherapyfundraising and https://www.instagram.com/the_butler_family6/?hl=en

To sponsor the skydivers, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/skydiveforben  and for information about the gala ball visit https://fb.me/e/bmcXEg03Q.

For more information, images or to arrange interviews please contact Catherine Cooper on 00 33 5 61 69 57 89, 00 33 6 09 03 55 88 or mail@catherinecooper.net