East Preston couple’s daring abseil down hotel block

Her husband, Rick, will be joining Toni, together with their friends, sisters Kathryn and Jenifer Reece, to abseil down the side of the Sofitel Hotel at Gatwick, in a down-to-earth display of gratitude to a very special charity.

All four and many others will be dangling on the end of a rope on Sunday (March 18) to raise funds for the Dame Vera Lynn Trust, which has been a great support to the McElroys, of East Preston, and their four-year-old son Connor, who has cerebral palsy.

The family moved from Croydon to North Lane in August, as they needed a bungalow, to be better suited for Connor’s needs. He has cerebral palsy spastic diplegia, as well as a muscle condition which causes spasms, cramps and stiffness. He can walk a little with the aid of a Kaye Walker device, and also uses a wheelchair.

Connor attends the Conductive Education School for Parents at Inglefield Manor, Five Oaks, near Billinghurst, every Tuesday, a service provided for children with cerebral palsy by the trust.

The McElroys are among 80 families supported by the trust. “Their help has been invaluable,” said Toni. “They have been absolutely brilliant for us, and really helped Connor. They help children to develop the basic life skills, such as eating, sitting, walking and we go to their skills for parents sessions, which show us how to help him.

“He’s a lovely little boy, with a great sense of humour, and never complains, whatever he has to put up with.”

Toni has abseiled before, but only 30-40ft, in her younger days. “I’m ok about doing it again. It’s for a fantastic cause. This is our way of saying thank you to the trust for all it’s done for Connor,” she added.

Connor also attends Happy Days Nursery in East Preston. “They have also been extremely helpful and understanding,” said Toni. She and Rick hope Connor will go to East Preston Infant School in due course.

So far, the couple and their friends have pledges of £1,111 in sponsorship. Anyone else who would like to support them can donate online at /www.justgiving.com/Jenifer-Reece-0