My name is Nick Heathcote and I'm a Captain with Thomson Airways.

Sam is a healthy 10 year old boy, with a normal life expectancy. His passion is Rugby. 

He has a fabulous sense of humour, impeccable manners and a charismatic personality that everyone warms to. He idolises his Mum, Dad and Sisters and when he grows older, Sam would like to follow in Dads' footsteps and become an airline pilot.

Toby is also 10 year old boy, his passion is cars.

He also has a fabulous sense of humour, impeccable manners and an infectious personality. He idolises his Mum Dad and sister too and when he grows older, would also like to follow in Mums' footsteps and become an airline pilot.

Toby and Sam are the best of friends.

Two young, happy, 10 year old  friends, different families, with parents involved in the same careers..one difference......

Sadly life's lottery has dealt a blow to Toby's dreams and aspirations as at the age of 5 he was diagnosed with the Duchenne strain of Muscular Dystrophy which affects the muscles causing muscle weakness, primarily near the trunk of the body, around the hips and shoulders. DMD is a very serious condition and it does shorten life. Because the muscle weakness increases gradually over the years, complications eventually develop. The breathing or heart problems usually become more serious for older teenagers or people in their 20's. The outlook will improve with advances in treatment.

Sam asked his Mum recently if his birthday party invitations could ask for donations to Toby's charity in lieu of any presents. An admirable gesture for such a young man approaching his 10th birthday.

I am proud to say that Sam is my son.

He has inspired me and my friends to publicise Toby's debilitating, cruel disease. In October 2014, along with 11 of my colleagues and friends we will cycle through Vietnam and Cambodia, a distance of around 500kms

We have payed for the trip with our own monies, so we guarantee you that every penny donated will go to Toby's charity.

Your generosity will help fund research and campaign for better standards of care for all people living with DMD.

I suppose that human nature dictates, when someone  close develops an illness, one closes ranks and helps in whatever way they can and yet keep other just as worth while charities at a distance, should they not, in ones naivety affect you.

Perhaps that's a lesson that all charities mean something to someone and Toby's charity means everything to us.

Please sponsor us.