PARENTS have raised more than £4,000 for Make A Wish UK on the fifth anniversary of their son receiving his new heart which saved his life.
Ben Sporle, 17, from Calne, had a heart transplant at the age of 12, and every year since the family raise as much money as possible for charity, to remember his donor and family and spread the importance of organ donation.
This month, to mark his fifth heart anniversary, they held a charity fundraiser for Make A Wish UK, with live performances from Corinthian Casuals, a disco, raffle, auction and a Full Monty-style show, raising more than £4,200.
His mother, Kerry Adamson, said: “Every year we raise money for a different charity who has supported us during Ben’s journey.
“We chose Make A Wish this year as they gave Ben a magical wish in December last year to go to Lapland.
“We try to do something different every year to give something back.
“We are very lucky with the support we have had over the last five years and we are trying to support organ donation. It is such an important thing and so many people aren’t aware until they are in that situation.”
Ben, who has severe learning difficulties, became unwell in 2012, with doctors dismissing it as growing pains.
Later that summer Mrs Adamson took Ben back to hospital, where doctors found he had a severely enlarged heart. He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and put on the waiting list for a new heart.
“They think the cause was an everyday virus, like a common cold that attacked the heart,” Mrs Adamson explained. “He was only existing really. We were told we only had six months, if that, to find him a new heart, but luckily we didn’t have to wait that long. We were very lucky.
“Every year I want to push for organ donation. If Ben hadn’t got his new heart, he wouldn’t be here. Simple as that.”
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