Stannah sends daughter on flight in memory of adopted dad

Having sifted through entries from across the country, retired clerk from Carmarthenshire, Richard G. Thomas, aged 76, was chosen as the second winner of Stannah’s Think Again Fund in April of this year.

Having always dreamt of learning to fly, his adopted daughter Jo Walsh, entered him into the Think Again Fund lottery to say thank you for being such a great dad – and Stannah decided he was a fantastic candidate to benefit from the fund and have his dreams become a reality.

Tragically, just weeks before Richard was due to take to the clouds, he passed away – but most importantly to his daughter, he had been aware of winning the opportunity and why his daughter had entered him. Jo decided that in a final act to commemorate her dad and his passion for flying, she’d like to take the flight instead, so on the 4th August Stannah sent Jo, together with her son Jamie and husband Jim, for a flying lesson at Solihull airfield.

Jo said of the experience, ‘The flight was the most amazing and terrifying experience! Jamie and Jim loved it, but we all felt a little queasy! The instructor made me help in the take off and flying the plane which was just fantastic!! Dad would have loved all the navigational tools, and understood more than me - it was a bit sad that he wasn’t doing it himself, but I just thought of him and the reasons why he would have been doing it. I’m so grateful to Stannah for choosing him to benefit from the Think Again Fund, and for the fact that he knew he won it for being the best Dad in the world to me.’

Anyone over 50 living in the UK can apply to receive money from Stannah’s Think Again Fund. The application form can be obtained by calling 020 7360 7825 or downloaded by clicking here. One person each month will be selected to receive a portion of the fund to put towards fulfilling their dreams. So, if you have always wanted to achieve something but just didn’t know how, please download an application form now and let us know what you want to do and why. Each month until December 2007 we will be selecting one winner and helping them live their dream, it could be you!

For further information, please call Kim Power at Resonate on 020 7360 7825 or kpower@resonate.uk.com