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Workers skydive in boy's memory

Ailsa Cranna
19/ 6/2008

STAFF at a car repair firm are bracing themselves for a charity skydive in aid of research into cot death after one of their colleagues tragically lost his baby son to the syndrome.

A team of seven from UK Assistance, in Kansas Avenue, Weaste, will be taking their leap of faith on July 5 at Grange-over-Sands to support mechanic Gary West, whose 10-month-old son Jamie Statham West died suddenly on December 6.

Sue Murphy, a customer service advisor at the firm, said: "Everyone was so devastated for Gary and his partner Pamela that we wanted to find some constructive way of helping them and this was what we decided upon.

"Words of sympathy can only do so much, so we decided to raise money to fund research into cot death so other families don’t go through the same agony.

"So far, we’ve raised just over £900 but we’ve got plenty of raffles and other things going on and Salford City Reds have said we can do a bucket collection before their next home game, so we’re hoping people will be very generous."

Pamela, 33, of Weymouth Road, Winton, said: "Gary’s bosses have been fabulously sympathetic since we lost Jamie and we’ve been touched by how much they have cared for us in our pain.

"But to know that they are going to do a skydive to raise funds for research means so much to us - I don’t think they know how much.

"It’s not just the practical way they are supporting us that we value, it’s the very fact that they are still thinking about us that is deeply moving.

"Since the day we woke up and found Jamie dead in his cot, we’ve been totally supported by the firm and staff - some of whom we’ve never met.

"The kindness of strangers has kept us going day-to-day as we try and cope with our loss.

"That’s why we will be joining them on the day in Grange-over-Sands, along with our six-year-old daughter Jessica.

"We won’t be taking part in the jump ourselves - we just want to show our support and appreciation of their kindness.

"I hope lots of people will donate to their appeal. I really don’t want anyone else to go through the hell we have gone through - and are still going through."

To sponsor the staff contact Sue Murphy on: 0161 934 3666.