Daventry man with fear of heights to jump out of a plane to raise funds for stepson’s ‘life changing’ wheelchair

A Northamptonshire man who has an ‘awful fear’ of heights is preparing to jump out of a plane in a bid to raise money to buy his terminally ill stepson a wheelchair.

Zach Holland, from Daventry, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy when he was just five.

The disease leaves the now eight-year-old struggling to walk as his muscles waste away into fat and scar tissues.

Due to the pandemic backlog, Zach was deemed ineligible for an electric wheelchair until he is completely bedridden, so stepdad, Josh Collins, and his friend decided to raise the funds themselves.

Laura Holland, Zach’s mum, said: “Zach will eventually be unable to walk and will have to rely on a wheelchair. He has a normal wheelchair at the moment, but it is causing him to lose his independence, as he relies on us to push him around.

“Most boys do not make it to the age of 20, so my mission in life is to make his life incredible and a power wheelchair will change his life. He’ll be able to go anywhere.”

28-year-old Josh added: “We noticed during lockdown that things would be difficult when I go back to work if Zach didn’t have a wheelchair he can operate himself, but we couldn’t just get ten grand from thin air.

“My friend Dan said he wanted to do a fundraiser and he was thinking about doing a skydive.

“We both said we’re terrified of heights, but we’d do it anyway.

“I have an awful fear and I just feel dizzy if I’m at the edge of something.

“I’d been busy thinking about launching the fundraiser but now that’s doing well and I’ve had time to think about the jump, I am bricking it.”

On September 22, Josh and Dan will jump out of a plane from 10,000 feet.

The pair set up a fundraiser and have become a bit of a hit online reaching more than £10,000 in sponsorship already, which will be enough to buy Zach an electric wheelchair.

“It will be life changing for Zach,” Josh continued.

“The first thing he said when we told him we had the money to get him a wheelchair was that he could take it out to play Pokemon Go.

“We live close to the country park and he can walk there but then is too tired to walk back, so it means he’ll be able to go there with just his mum now I’m back at work.”

Laura added: “We have been speaking to the wheelchair company and we’re booking Zach in for an appointment, which is exciting.

“It’s just amazing what Josh is doing.

“He is frightened of heights and he said he wanted to do something out of his comfort zone as he thought he can’t ask someone to donate to something he wants to do.

“As a single mum you don’t expect to be able to find anyone who can love your kids as much as you do, but Josh is 100 percent there for Zach. He goes above and beyond.”

To sponsor Josh and Dan’s jump, visit their GoFundMe page.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you