Very special send-off

Oct 21 2009 by Jackie Grant, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

TWO youngsters were delighted on Friday when Dumfries man John Wilson gave them some extra spending money before they took off on a dream trip to Florida.

Thirteen-year-old Lincluden lad Lee Burton and 12-year-old Callum Horan from Lochside, were nominated for the holiday by Kirstine Burns, acting nurse manager for children’s services at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

The pair were chosen for the trip because of the amount of time they have to spend in hospital suffering from chronic ill health.

Lee was only six when he was diagnosed with brittle bone disease and Callum was eight years old when doctors discovered he had Crohn’s Disease.

The boys couldn’t wait to jet off to Florida on Saturday with Dreamflight .

Mr Wilson from Larchfield said he felt “inspired” by the youngsters after reading their story in the Standard last Friday.

He said: “I have a disability myself and felt totally inspired by these young boys. I was encouraged by how brave they are for their age and how they just get on with it and cope with their conditions. Life must be very difficult for them sometimes.

John gave the boys £50 each as spending money. He added: “I just wanted them to have a little extra and to let them know they are an inspiration.”