Facebook page members from Wisbech give cash boost to help family make dreams come true

Members of a Wisbech-based Facebook page have given an early Christmas gift to a family of young boys facing sight loss and other problems caused by a genetic disease.

Wisbech Community Chest raised £400 for brothers, Finlay Dodkin, eight, Arthur, six and four-year-old Harrison.

The money was handed over by the Facebook page's admins: Maggie Mainwaring, Rossane Porter, Cheryl Doughty and Elizabeth McManus to the boys' mum Sarah at the group's annual Christmas meal at the King of Hearts in West Walton.

The money will go to a special fund set up in the summer called 'Pedals4Memories' which aims to raise cash to help make the dreams of the three special boys come true.

Their parents, Sarah and Ben Dodkin, are determined to make happay family memories and not let the rare Battens Disease blight the childhood of their sons.

Finley and Harrison are two of approximately 30 children living in the UK with Juvenile Battens Disease, a neurodegenerative condition which will affect their eyesight, mobility and memory.

The family’s journey began in May 2016 when Finley began to have problems with his eyesight. He was later diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy and sent for genetic testing, which showed Finley had Battens Disease.

Sarah and Ben were advised by a genetic counsellor there was a one-in-four chance of Arthur and Harrison being affected too, but further tests revealed Harrison was affected but Arthur was not.

Sarah, who works at Meadowgate Academy in Wisbech, said: “It was heartbreaking. You dream of a lot of things for your children and to be told that this may not happen is hard. The news was not only devastating for us, but also for our friends and family.”

Ben will be taking on a three-day cycling challenge with Paul Bate, Jesse Bate, Phil Kowbas, Jack Griffin, Harry Griffin, Toby Allen, Owen Dobson and Nathan Peel in May next year, and the money from Community Chest will go to that fund.

To support please go to: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pedal4memories