A former RAF serviceman with motor neurone disease (MND) is ticking one thing off his bucket list to raise money for charity as he completes a skydive.
51-year-old Lez Wainwright was diagnosed with the condition in February and began thinking about all the things he wanted to do in life.
One of these is a skydive and even though he had served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) for nine years, it is something he has never done before.
“After my diagnosis I decided to do a bucket list,” he said. “A skydive was one of the things I’ve always wanted to do.
“Originally I was too scared but I thought now is my chance to get it out the way with and get it done.”
Not only will Lez get the satisfaction of being able to tick this off his list, but it will also be used to help others by raising funds for the MND Association.
His two step daughters, Alice and Charlotte Parker, will also be taking part as they look to support the charity that was there for Lez.
He said the charity has been ‘very helpful’ since his diagnosis, being a contact to help him any time of day and even setting up a speech monitor for when he needs it.
Although Lez was diagnosed earlier this year he admitted he had been noticing symptoms from as early as 2019.
The first signs came when he began to rapidly lose weight. Then his legs began to give way which resulted in a number of long hospital visits for him last year.
Once he received his diagnosis he found himself stunned.
“I didn’t really know much about MND in the beginning,” Lez said. “My wife did, but it was a shock.
“When I was told it was a life changing illness it really shocked me and I became quite scared of it.”
Now Lez is looking to help others in a similar position to him by raising as much money as possible.
Initially the target was to collect £680, helping cover the cost of the skydive with the rest of the money going to the MND Association.
However the coverage his efforts have received mixed with the generosity of others means they have raised nearly £1800 so far, with Lez thrilled with how much it has taken off.
Although this extra funding is key he said that raising awareness about the condition is just as important.
“With awareness can come funding as it is all rolled into one. Currently there is not a lot of awareness about MND.
“It is getting better but funding is desperately needed and if I can raise even a single penny to help find a cure then I’m happy with that.”
The rest of Lez’s family are also chipping in with their own fundraising efforts, with his stepson-in-law competing in the Great North Run later this year for the same charity.
He spoke about how happy he was to see the efforts go ‘viral’ after a number of his friends also committed to helping raise money through their own charity runs.
As for the rest of Lez’s bucket list he is looking much closer to home, saying what is top of that for him now is spending quality time with his family.
To find out more and donate to Lez, click here.
